According to a study by researcher Alice Home, from the University of Ottawa School of Social Work, the major challenges for Canadian adoptive parents are finding and accessing post-adoption support and services, and getting a diagnosis and then understanding what that means for a child with special needs. Particularly challenging for parents who adopt internationally is the lack of information about the child’s needs.
Home’s study with 26 Candaian adoptive parents and with adoption professionals found that parents often struggle to find help, fearing that adoption agency workers will blame the parents for their problems.
Participants were videotaped and Home is in the process of publishing the findings.
The videos are available at the Adoption Council of Canada site.
Chapter 1: Working together across boundaries
Chapter 2: Stakeholder study
Chapter 3: Advocating for children with disabilities
Chapter 4: Ways forward
For more information:
HealthCanal article, “Unique study on adoptive parenting sheds light on lack of post-adoption support”
Adoption Council of Canada (AAC)
