International Adoption: An
American Perspective
Victor Groza , Ph. D.
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
11235 Bellflower Road
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
(216) 368-6682
Adoptions in the United States
20%
50%
15%
15%
Step-Parent Adoptions
Domestic Infants Adoptions
International Adoptions
Domestic Older Child and Special Needs Adoptions
Immigrant Visas Issued to Orphans
20000
18000
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001
Number of
International
Adoptees
Country of Origin
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
Asia
Central/South
America
Russia/Former
Republics
Eastern Europe
Carribean
2000
1000
0
Africa
COMPARISON OF FAMILY FOSTER
CARE TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE
FAMILY CARE







love
affection
structure
1:1 attention
individual focus
belonging to an extended system of
relations
stimulation through relationships
INSTITUTIONAL CARE







acceptance/tolerance
distance
routine
1:8-35 attention
group focus
belong/identify to the group
stimulation thru programs
Risks to Children from Early
Institutionalization
–
–
–
–
Health
Development
Attachment
Psychosocial (Emotional and Behavioral)
Functioning
Outcomes in International Adoption:
A strength or pathology perspective
 Resilient
Rascals
 Wounded Wonders
 Challenged Children
Results from 3 Researchers
70
60
50
Resilient
Rascals
Wounded
Wonders
Challenged
Children
40
30
20
10
0
Groza
Jenista
Bascom
Service Usage and Needs-1
Used
Needed
Financial Support
Adoption subsidy
Other financial help
7%
34%
47%
40%
Service Information
Service Coordination
Legal Services
10%
19%
37%
21%
Educational Services
Educational Assessment
Legal Services
40%
28%
28%
16%
Service Usage and Needs-2
Medical & Health Services
Home health/nursing
Physical or occupational
therapy
Medical care for disability
Used
Needed
2%
19%
9%
13%
7%
7%
Service Usage and Needs-3
Used
Needed
Psychiatric/psychological
Services
Psychiatric hospitalization
Out-patient psychiatry
Psychological evaluation
1%
22%
6%
1%
4%
17%
Counseling
Re: adoption issues
Re: parenting skills
Re: child development
Re: child’s future
Family counseling/therapy
Individual for child
17%
28%
37%
17%
11%
13%
47%
51%
46%
41%
31%
23%
37%
57%
25%
88%
48%
68%
77%
57%
Social Supports
Adoptive parent support
group
Adopted child support group
Social time with other
families
Social time with other
adoptees
Service Usage for Families Adopting Internationally
Lessons Learned for Practice






The most significant predicators of children’s behavior are traumatic
pre-adoptive history.
The parent-child relationship is a strong resource with all parents
experiencing overall satisfaction with the child on multiple dimensions
of the relationship.
Although children adopted domestically and internationally enter their
families after experiencing different types of trauma, their behavior is
more similar than different--the sources of stress are different but the
consequences may be the same.
Many of the services available and used by families who adopt
domestically may be appropriate for families who adopt internationally
Encourage families to get early assessment and intervention to help
them and their children.
Prepare families for the risks and support families who adopt
throughout the adoptive family lifecycle.
Family Systems—Resources and Stressors
from the Family and Child

Stressors
– Family System
• Unrealistic expectations
• Low flexibility
• Inadequate support systems
– Child Subsystem
•
•
•
•
Health/sensory difficulties
Attachment problems
Learning disabilities
Difficulty with coping skills,
interpersonal/family living skills
& social skills

Resources
–
Family System
•
•
•
•
Sufficient, accessible training
Skill building to enhance flexibility
Support systems interventions
Post-adoption support
– Child Subsystem
•
•
•
•
•
Comprehensive, multidisciplinary
assessment
Early Intervention
Individual Intervention
Skill building to enhance coping skills,
interpersonal/family living skills &
social skills
Family foster care before placement
Family Systems—Resources and Stressors
from the Service System

Stressors
• Adoption Process, family vs.
child
• Lack of pre-adoptive training
• Incomplete or inaccurate
information about children
• Lack of post-placement
support and services

Resources
– Child-centered orientation
– Focus on strengths
– Sufficient, accessible pre-adoptive
training
– Better, more comprehensive and
accurate information on children at
matching
– Adoption sensitive services and
therapies
– Assist with development and
maintenance of informal social
supports