Integrating a child into an adoptive family in times of COVID-19: Lessons learned from adopters’ and professionals’ views

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has brought multiple challenges for families and child welfare professionals, but also represent a unique psico-socio-ecological context to re-think fundamental working practices. The present work had two main aims: (1) to understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the child’s transition to an adoptive family, in terms of challenges and adjustments made to adoption practice, perceived difficulties as well as benefits, from the views of adopters and adoption professionals, and (2) to identify promising practices to be maintained in pandemic and free-pandemic situations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online with 13 Portuguese adopter families who received a child during the first wave of COVID-19 (March-June 2020) and 4 dyads of adoption professionals who followed and supported those families. Thematic analysis showed that adopters and professionals highlighted predominantly benefits for different phases of the transition as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic tough some difficulties were experienced. Delays and uncertainties of child’s placements caused anxiety for most children and adopters. However, the strategies undertaken during this waiting time (e.g., recorded video, reflection activities) were viewed as beneficial for parent–child mutual knowledge and preparation for parenthood. The impossibility of adopters to visit the child’s residential care setting and the inconsistency of practices between services were consensually perceived as major difficulties. Confinement and telework were consistently viewed as an opportunity for both adopters to be concurrently at home with the child, which facilitated establishing family bonds and routines. However, adopters reported mixed opinions towards social distancing. Among the several benefits perceived from the adjustments made to adoption practice, virtual (e.g., videoconferences) and informal (e.g., through WhatsApp groups) communication consistently emerged as the most relevant ones. Lessons relevant for adoption policy and practice over the transition to adoptive parenthood are discussed, including suggestions for future research.