Open Adoption Research Articles

Адаптация к новой реальности: обзор международных исследований специфики развития детей, оставшихся без попечения родителей, в замещающих семьях и при усыновлении

<p>This article analyzes the challenges encountered during the adoption of children or their placement in substitute families across various countries, with a focus on their adaptation, psychosocial development, cognitive abilities, and social integration. To achieve the objectives of this research, the scope was not limited to adopted children but extended to children deprived of parental care who were placed in alternative forms of family care (substitute families—such as guardianship families, including foster families). Foreign researchers differentiate between foster children: “substitute family” — raised in a foster or substitute family, “adopted children” — adopted, “looked after children” — under guardianship, “foster families” — temporary stay in families, (an analogue is the system of state care in Russia), who are waiting for a suitable family for upbringing and long-term residence. The possibility of studying this category of children is associated with the practice of open adoption prevalent in most countries. In contrast, the secrecy of adoption in Russia impedes the ability to track the developmental dynamics of children, particularly those adopted at an early age. The study examines key factors influencing the well-being of adopted children and children under kinship guardianship, including the impact of cultural differences, models of adoption (open and closed), early traumatic experiences, and the level of support provided to foster families. Special attention is paid to medical aspects, academic performance, psychological issues, and potential behavioral deviations. An analysis of international data identifies the primary challenges faced by adopted children, such as legal troubles, emotional instability, and difficulties in social integration. It is revealed that the source of psychological trauma in most cases lies in the pre-adoption period of the child's life, which often includes factors collectively referred to as adverse childhood experiences. Parental attention and warmth in relationships can significantly mitigate the challenges faced by children. The article underscores the importance of an interdisciplinary approach, including collaboration between government institutions, NGOs, and educational organizations, to minimize the negative effects of adverse childhood experiences and improve the quality of life for children.</p>

A FMKL-GLD Quantile Method for Estimating Economic Growth in Nigeria in the Presence of Multicollinearity and Outlier

Nigeria’s economic growth posed to be a serious concern to policymakers, economics and scholars due to the challenges of economic characteristics, consequences and contradictions. Despite the effort made by the Central Bank of Nigeria in implementing several policies such as tightening of monetary policy rate and heavy borrowing for infrastructural development to stimulate economic growth in the past few years. The economic growth in Nigeria between 1999-2007 was 6.95 percent, between 2008-2010, it was stood 7.98 percent and it was 4.80 percent between 2011-2015 and from 2016 till day the economic growth stood at 0.81 percent. In this study, we estimate parameters to determine Nigerian economic growth in the presence of multicollinearity and outliers. We employed the FMKL-GLD quantile model to quarterly data from 1986 to 2021 obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Exploratory data analysis (EDA) and diagnostic test carried out ascertained the presence of multicollinearity and outlier. However, it was discovered that in model that INDT, RINR, REXR and OPEN contributed positively to the economic growth to the turn of 0.15%, 0.24%, 0.06% and 1.76% while, it was revealed that EXDT contributed negatively to the economic growth in Nigeria thus, reduced economic growth by 0.02% and as such showed the tendency and potential macroeconomic variables under study as a veritable determinant of economic growth. The location, scale and space parameters , , , and for the fitted FMKL-GLD model were -0.0253, 34.1488 -0.3303, and -0.5758. Therefore, it can be concluded based on the location, scale and space parameters from FMKL-FGLD and GLD Q,Q plots as well as the estimated parameter of RGDP, FMKL-FGLD was the best model that described the economic situation in Nigeria by showing that economy was growing in retrogressive direction and the need for drastic effort and strong willed to curtail the situation. To achieve this, the adoption of economic openness to the development and the growth of economy in Nigeria is a veritable policy direction that must be strictly followed.

The Structure of Open and Distance English Language Teaching Models: A Follow Up Study 2018 – 2023

In recent years, the widespread adoption of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has revolutionized education, especially English language teaching. ODL has democratized access to educational resources and enables interaction between students and instructors across geographical boundaries. Moreover, technology integration has emerged as a dominant theme, with a focus on web-based, computeraided, and mobile-learning systems. However, the study advocates for innovative approaches, such as mobile and game-based learning, aligning with contemporary trends. The adoption of various evaluation methods shows the recognition of individual differences and underscores the need for a comprehensive view of learner progress. This research employs a systematic approach to review literature and investigate the common structures of ODL models for teaching the English language, focusing on articles published between 2018 and 2023. This study categorizes studies based on five macro dimensions of ODL —management, communication, learning, technology, and evaluation—in order to identify common themes and patterns within the literature. In contrast to a previous study spanning 1990 to 2017, this investigation uncovers the evolving landscape of distance education, underscoring the need for continued research and improvement. This research emphasizes the lack of a comprehensive management model for EFL education delivered through ODL, and suggests the need for further investigation in this domain. Moreover, the findings emphasize the significance of leveraging diverse communication models to enhance learner engagement. A shift towards autonomous learning models is observed, demanding further investigation into strategies that support effective self-directed learning experiences. In conclusion, this comprehensive analysis provides a roadmap for advancing ODL models in English-language education. To enhance the quality and accessibility of English language instruction in ODL, educators and researchers can concentrate on addressing management gaps, optimizing communication strategies, promoting autonomous learning, exploring advanced technologies, and refining evaluation approaches. This research offers a rich repository of knowledge for educators, researchers, and academic institutions that wish to deepen their comprehension and practical application of ODL approaches in the domain of English language instruction

RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE TRANSRACIALLY ADOPTED CHILD’S BIOLOGICAL FAMILY IN SOUTH AFRICA: EXPERIENCES OF FAMILIES IN CLOSED AND OPEN ADOPTIONS

Socio-economic and cultural circumstances in South Africa impact on why people place children for adoption, and affect the attitudes towards the biological family, as well as communication and contact between the adoptive and biological families. No research on contact between adoptive and biological families of transracial adoptees has been conducted in South Africa. This exploratory research investigated the attitudes towards biological family and how adoptive families manage communication about and contact with the biological family in closed and open adoptions. Snowball sampling was used to recruit 26 transracial adoptive families with a total of 35 adopted children. Data were gathered through family interviews and focus groups, using the FANI interview method and thematically analysed, using an inductive, iterative approach. Results highlight challenges and tasks for adoptive families, including (1) sharing information about biological families; (2) creating connections with community and culture associated with biological families; (3) communication with biological families; and (4) in-person contact with biological family. Keywords: biological family, qualitative research, South Africa, transracial adoption, transracial adoptive families

Stronger color evasive racial ideologies predict lower likelihood of open adoption placement with same-sex couples.

Although the adoption rate among same-sex couples has been increasing, limited research has focused on factors influencing decision making related to placing children with such couples, particularly from the standpoint of birth mothers. Additionally, there is a gap in the literature regarding how biases may influence birth mothers' decision to place their child with a same-sex couple. This study sought to examine the association between birth mothers' racial ideologies and their decision to voluntarily place their children with same-sex couples (n = 29) or mother-father couples (n = 354) during the adoption process. Results indicated that birth mothers with stronger color evasive racial attitudes were significantly less likely to place their children with same-sex couples. The need for additional research about the intersections among various forms of bias in the adoption process and the effect of potential interactions between homophobia and racism are discussed. Suggestions for professionals wishing to minimize homophobic and racist bias are provided.

The Placement of Children in Need of Out-of-Home Care: Forms of Care and Differences in Attachment Security and Behavioral Problems in the Italian Context

The current paper investigated differences in secure attachment levels and behavioral problems among four groups of children in out-of-home care in Italy: closed adoption (child and birth parents not in contact following adoption), open adoption (child and birth parents still in contact after placement), foster care (child living temporarily with relatives or unrelated foster parents) and institutional care (child in residential care for large groups of children). One hundred and thirty children aged 10–19 were included in this study. The Attachment Interview for Childhood and Adolescence and the Achenbach Youth Self-Report were employed to measure participants’ secure attachment levels and behavioral problems. Both a multivariate analysis of covariance and measured variable path analysis were performed. Age, gender and time elapsed between the request for child protection and placement on out-of-home care were used as covariates. The results showed that adolescents in closed adoption had higher secure attachment scores than those in foster care and institutional care, while adolescents in open adoption scored significantly higher on problem behaviors than those in the other out-of-home care groups. Findings were discussed in terms of limitations and implications for future research.

Co-Design with People with Lived Experience: Designing Resources to Communicate with Children and Young People in Care about their Family Time Contact Visits

Abstract Contact visits, or family time, enable children in out-of-home care to sustain relationships with their birth families. In Australia, direct contact including face-to-face visits is typical for children on long-term orders, including guardianship and open adoption. Caseworkers are charged with supporting relationships between children’s birth family members and carers and ensuring contact is safe and child-centred. This article describes how people with lived experience of family time in out-of-home care have collaborated with researchers to co-design practical resources, in the context of an action research study aimed at changing caseworker practice. These resources include a book for young children and a book for older children and adolescents, which both use trauma-informed language and empower their audiences to know their rights and ask for what they need. Additional resources include co-designed tip sheets for family members and carers. People who have personally experienced the care system have unique insights into the experience of family time in out-of-home care and how it can be improved. In partnership, researchers and people with lived experience can identify the gaps in knowledge and practice resources, and co-design resources that integrate lived experience and research findings, underpinned by theory.

Research funders should be more transparent: a plea for open applications.

Transparency is increasingly becoming the new norm and modus operandi of the global research enterprise. In this mini-review, we summarize ongoing initiatives to increase transparency in science and funding in particular. Based on this, we make a plea for the next step in funders' compliance with the principles of Open Science, suggesting the adoption of open applications. Our proposed model includes a plea for the publication of all submitted grant applications; open sharing of review reports, argumentations for funding decisions and project evaluation reports; and the disclosure of reviewers' and decision committee members' identities. In line with previous calls for transparency and the available evidence about these measures' effectiveness, we argue that open applications could lead to more diverse collaboration, recognition of research ideas, fairer procedures for grant allocation, more research on funding practices and increased trust in the funding allocation process.

Factors that leads to Adoption and Use of Online Bank Account Opening through e-KYC using UTAUT and its Extensions


 Financial Inclusion has been determined as one of the factors affecting national development. Bank account opening provides opportunity to more banking services and as such central banks have been supporting the use of Electronic-Know-Your-Customer (e-KYC) even before COVID-19 pandemic. While the benefits of e-KYC for the banks and its customers are clear, the widespread use of such process for account opening is still in its early adoption stage. This research employed a quantitative method by adopting the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology as as theoretical foundation and extension constructs and determined the factors affecting the use and adoption of e-KYC for online bank account opening. As a result, facilitating conditions and perceived security were found to be significant factors affecting the intension to use e-KYC. Through this research, it was able to validate the use of the research model in studying e-KYC adoption and provided management key areas leading to e-KYC use that they may focus on. 

Who am I? The Politics of Lying, Not Knowing and Truth-Telling in the West German History of Child Adoption

This article traces the history of the West German debate about whether, how, and why adoptive parents should or should not tell their children the truth about their origins. Concepts of biological and social parenthood, family, parental love, and the maternal bond play a role in this context, as does the ensuing legal discussion on full and partial adoption, anonymous adoption, and finally the novel instrument of “open adoption” that was developed in the 1970s. The conclusion attempts to place these discussions within the context of a more comprehensive history of truth. In drawing attention to how the current trend towards unconditional truth-telling has been shaped by changing historical contexts, the paper reveals that the answers are context-bound, that it is advisable to carefully ponder what effects the overarching emphasis on a single form of truth (or secrecy) may have, and what dangers it may hold.

“You are mum and then they are mum”: Negotiating roles, relationships, and contact in out‐of‐home care

AbstractObjectiveBirth family contact can be undermined by relationship difficulties between adults from children's two families, especially in relation to role ambiguity for mother figures. Research to understand relationships between birth mothers and female caregivers across all placement types is needed.BackgroundIn Australia, children in long‐term care, guardianship, and open adoption have direct contact with members of their birth families. The extent to which maternal figures work together is critical to children's ability to enjoy ongoing birth family connections, particularly First Nations children, who are overrepresented in out‐of‐home care.MethodQualitative methods were used to understand the personal attributes that influence relationships between five dyads of birth mothers and their child's female caregivers in New South Wales. Four were foster or kinship carers, two had adoptions underway, and one was a legal guardian. Three birth mothers identified as Aboriginal, and no caregivers did so. Analysis mapped birth mothers' acceptance and carers' communicative openness and interpreted influences of interpersonal skills, contact, and power dynamics on relationship quality.ResultsPositive and natural interactions between children’ mother figures can exist irrespective of legal arrangement when both are able to demonstrate emotional competence and learn relationship‐building skills and overcome power imbalances.ConclusionThe complexity of managing relationships in the context of permanent child removal is influenced by how well children's two mother figures renegotiate their roles.ImplicationsFamilies need support to discuss the goals and purpose of contact and identify relational resources and challenges. Professionals could use visit coaching to support children's two families in navigating contact.

The Open Adoption Alternative, A Birthmother’s Perspective

This personal essay speaks to the life-altering impact of adoption, even in the case of a carefully planned and successful open adoption. The essay describes the experience of a birthmother over the course of twenty-two years in an open adoption.

The Open Adoption Alternative, A Birthmother's Perspective

The Open Adoption Alternative, A Birthmother's Perspective

Citizens’ or Government’s Will? Exploration of Why Indonesia’s Local Governments Adopt Technologies for Open Government

Web 2.0 is a technology that enables collaboration between citizens and the government to actualise the concept of open government. The adoption of technology in the public sector is known to have positive impacts in fostering public sector innovation, including in developing countries with various problems that require collaboration between citizens and the government. However, currently studies concerning open government technology adoption in developing countries are limited. Indonesia as an example of a developing and democratic country provides a suitable context to explore this phenomenon. Moreover, there are many local government institutions in Indonesia, especially on Java Island, that have implemented Web 2.0 to support open government initiatives. Therefore, this research aims to explore key factors influencing the adoption of the Web 2.0 platform by local government institutions in Indonesia. Multiple theories are combined to guide the exploration of the influencing factors related to technology, organisations, management, and the environment. Based on a multiple case study involving five local government institutions in Indonesia, we identified fifteen factors affecting the adoption of Web 2.0 technology. This study offers both research and practical implications that can be considered by government and other key stakeholders to optimise public participation and information access through the adoption of open government initiatives.

Intentional Kinship through Caring Relationships, Heritage, and Identity: Adoptive Parents’ Inclusion of Non-Biological and Non-Affinal Relationships on Family Maps

Structural open adoption has been beneficial to adoptees in integrating their birth heritage and identity. Adoptive parents also may sometimes seek out others who are neither related biologically nor through partnership to support their child in developing an integrated sense of identity. To what extent do these intentional kinship relationships become incorporated within the adoptive family network and how do adoptive parents view their role in their child’s life? Qualitative data on family inclusion of non-biological and non-affinal kin are reported from interviews with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual adoptive parents (n = 25 families). Analyses of verbal and visual data from family map drawing interviews indicated that adoptive parents from the different types of families similarly included intentional kin in their conceptualization of their child’s family. Adopted children’s foster carers, family friends, other adoptive families, and other children and adults were specifically included on family maps to facilitate children’s knowledge of different aspects of their birth heritage and adoption story. The implications of open adoption policy therefore move beyond considerations of only birth family contact. In practice, open adoption procedures convey a broad message to families that appear to widen adoptive parents’ conceptualization of kinship.

Adoptive Parenting Cognitions in the Era of Open Adoption: Is Shared Fate Theory Still Relevant?

ObjectiveTo reexamine shared fate theory by validating the original measure of “acknowledgment of differences” (AOD) and testing the theory's relations in the current era of open adoptions.BackgroundShared fate theory states adoptive parents who acknowledge differences between adoptive and nonadoptive parenthood are better able to empathize with their child and promote open communication about adoption. The theory has not been validated in the context of modern adoption practices, such as birth family contact.MethodConfirmatory factor analyses examined the validity of the original measure of AOD using a sample of 190 adoptive mothers whose families varied in level of birth family contact. Regression analyses examined the relation between AOD and empathy and communication 8 years later, as well as whether level of birth family contact moderated these relations.ResultsResults provided evidence for the validity of the measure of AOD. AOD in mothers significantly predicted empathy and communication 8 years later, with little evidence for moderation by level of birth family contact.ConclusionAOD has implications for parenting practices and remains an important adoptive parenting cognition, regardless of level of birth family contact.ImplicationsAOD is a still relevant area of intervention for practitioners working with adoptive families.

Telling visual stories of loss and hope: body mapping with mothers about contact after child removal

Visual research methods reduce reliance on verbal communication and offer an avenue for non-verbal storytelling. Body mapping is a visual arts-based research method with its origins in art therapy and community development. It has been successfully used to explore embodied experiences of marginalised social groups. Participants engage in sensory and multimodal storytelling by tracing a life-size body outline and adorning it with fabrics, drawings and images to symbolise their views during a guided interview. This approach was used in research to explore birth family contact experiences in New South Wales, where children have ongoing direct contact with birth relatives in long-term care, guardianship and open adoption. Twelve mothers of children in permanent care took part in body mapping to explore their feelings about contact and the support they need to nurture a relationship with their children. Immersion in the artistic process of bringing a representational body to life granted these mothers access to hidden memories about their experience of child removal. They used evocative images to depict system violence and their fight against the erasure of their mother identity as well to envision a positive future relationship with their children. Body mapping potently revealed that traumatic loss resides in the body and resurfaces in encounters with child welfare systems. This has important policy and practice implications, highlighting a need for post-removal therapeutic services to process trauma and sensitive casework to rebuild parent trust and to help carers respond with empathy to their child’s mother at contact. This lends support to the usefulness of body mapping not only for research with vulnerable parents, but to its enormous potential as a creative engagement tool for child welfare practitioners.

Communication Privacy Management in Open Adoption Relationships: Negotiating Co-ownership across In-person and Mediated Communication

Open adoption relationships are rife with privacy dilemmas and fuzzy boundaries, which require ongoing coordination of private disclosures as a result. The present study employed communication privacy management (CPM) theory to examine adoptive parents’ ( N = 354) private disclosures with the birth family across in-person and mediated (i.e., texting and social media) contexts. SEM analysis revealed that adoptive families who were more private and were concerned about the birth family sharing private information with others viewed disclosures to the birth family as risky. These privacy concerns related to adoptive parents being more clear with the birth family about preferences for sharing that private information with others. More social media contact between birth and adoptive parents predicted increased perceptions of risk of disclosure to birth parents. Results advance CPM theorizing by underscoring the motivational bases of perceived risk, the importance of anticipated boundary turbulence, and the nuanced privacy management processes within communication modes.

I Am a Black Adoptee of White Parents: What George Floyd Taught Me About Race and Adoption

This analysis highlights the history of policies in the U.S. child welfare system that have led to racial disproportionalities within the child welfare system for Black children and families, and how adoption centered organizations frame issues surrounding racial disproportionalities today. The death of George Floyd in 2020, a catalyst for heightened discussions around race and adoption within adoption centered organizations, is analyzed as it relates to the role adoption centered organizations play in reducing racial disparities within the child welfare system. The analysis finds that despite heightened emphasis on the importance of race in 2020, adoption centered organizations downplayed their own role in addressing, and contributing to racial disproportionately in the child welfare system. In addressing current challenges, the analysis concludes that reducing racial disproportionalities in the system must come from advocating for legislation that incentivize family reunification and open adoptions, along with upending existing policies and practices that have been shown to negatively affect Black families.

An Analysis of Digital Education in Canada in 2017-2019

Digital education refers to in-person, blended, and fully online learning efforts, as well as attempts to capture a wide range of teaching and learning contexts which make use of digital technology. While digital education is pervasive in Canada, pan-Canadian data on digital education are relatively scarce. The Canadian Digital Learning Research Association/Association Canadienne de Recherche sur la Formation en Ligne conducted pan-Canadian surveys of higher education institutions (2017-2019), collecting data on the digital education landscape and publishing annual reports of its results. Previous analyses of the data have used quantitative approaches. However, the surveys also collected responses to open-ended questions. In this study, we report a systematic analysis of qualitative data exploring the digital education landscape in Canada and its changes over time. Findings shed light on the growth of digital education, the situated and multidimensional nature of digital education, the adoption of openness, quality, and rigour, and the development of alternative credentials.