Addressing the Unique Needs of Diverse Families Adopting Children from Foster Care

• Behavior Problems and Parenting Stress for Children Adopted From Foster Care Over the First 5 Years After Placement
  Presented by: Jill Waterman, Erum Nadeem, Emilie Paczkowski, Jared Foster, Jane Lange, Tom Belin, Jeanne Miranda

• Risk and Resilience in Gay and Lesbian Families Adopting From Foster Care
  Presented by: Justin A. Lavner, Jill Waterman

• Adoption-Specific Psychotherapy: A Manualized Intervention for Families Adopting Children From Foster Care
  Presented by: Audra K. Langley, Jill Waterman, Debbie Riley, Jeanne Miranda
  

Abstracts

Addressing the Unique Needs of Diverse Families Adopting Children from Foster Care

Presented by: Audra K. Langley, Jill Waterman, Justin A. Lavner

Findings from adoption-focused research examining the unique needs of diverse families adopting children from foster care are presented, highlighting the trajectory of externalizing behavior in youth adopted from foster care along with prevalence rates and adoption dynamics of at-risk youth placed with same- versus different-sex families.  The development and content of an adoption-specific intervention to address these needs will be discussed, with an emphasis on crossover themes and methodology. Results underscore the presence of key issues relevant to this population and call for social service programs specifically tailored to these at-risk families and children.