This Open Access book presents unique evidence from the first (and only) comprehensive study of the outcomes of open adoption from care in Australia, and adds to an understanding of the antecedents of abused and neglected children adopted from care and their subsequent life trajectories. It also contributes to the international debate concerning the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory face-to-face post adoption contact with birth family members, practised uniquely in Australia, although an evolving element of adoption policy in the UK and other countries. The chapters assess whether adoption provides a better chance of permanence and more positive outcomes than long-term foster care for children in care who cannot safely return to their birth families and whose previous experiences have been marked by extensive adversity. They also explore whether open adoption, entailing continuing regular face-to-face contact with birth family members, mandated by the courts as part of a legally enforceable adoption plan agreed by all parties, can avoid some of the detrimental consequences of past policies in which adoption was shrouded in secrecy and children frequently grew up with a conflicted sense of identity. As such, the book will appeal to policy makers, practitioners and students of social policy, social work, the law, psychology and psychiatry. It should also be of interest to adult adoptees and adoptive parents, whose experiences are reflected in its pages.

Book Information
ISBN 9783030764289
Author Harriet Ward
Format Hardback
Imprint Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Weight(grams) 148g