title: Strengthening adoption practice, listening to adoptive families.
abstract: In-depth interviews with 500 adoptive families who received postadoption services through Virginia's Adoptive Family Preservation (AFP) program paint a richly detailed picture of the challenges adoptive families face and what they need to sustain adoption for many years after finalization. Findings document the need for support in a variety of forms, including respite, counseling, and information. Numerous implications for strengthening adoption practice through effective training and technical assistance are discussed.
authors.affiliation: PolicyWorks, Ltd., Richmond, Virginia 23226, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonet
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D014481:United States; D014768:Virginia