title: Meeting the long-term needs of families who adopt children out of foster care: a three-year follow-up study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which agency and nonagency supportive resources contributed to the stability and well-being of 34 newly adoptive families over 3 years. Results revealed significant pre- to post-adoption declines in families' contact and satisfaction with formal and informal helping resources. Greater pre-adoption contact with formal adoption agency staff predicted adoption stability and lower levels of family conflict at the 3-year assessment. The results highlight the importance of providing adoptive families with formal and informal support that meets their evolving needs.
authors.affiliation: Illinois State University, School of Social Work/Center for Adoption Studies, Normal, Illinois 61790, USA. dmhous2@ilstu.edu
authors.forename: Doris M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002669:Child Welfare; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology