A symposium contains presentations and discussion by 3-4 experts on a particular topic. A discussant integrates and summarizes the papers, develops implications for policy and practice from the research, and facilitates audience discussion.

Papers listed below are included in this session.

Discussant: Rachel H. Farr
Chair: Cheryl Fortner-Wood

Summary
This symposium aligns well with this year’s conference theme - The Science of Families: Nurturing Hope, Happiness, & Health – and the Family Policy Section’s pursuit of research “that takes a strengths-focused perspective.” The takeaway points from the four research papers highlight positive outcomes, emphasize the strengths of adoptive and foster care (AFC) family members, identify factors that benefit or hinder service effectiveness, and recommend approaches to better include AFC voices in research about their experiences. These studies provide valuable findings, the implications of which can improve adoption and foster care family services, programs, and policies. They share strong theoretical foundations, emphasizing family systems theory and including symbolic interactionism, care theory, intersectionality theory, and theories of power and hierarchy. The quantitative and qualitative methodologies used to evaluate outcomes and understand perspectives of youth and adults add breadth and depth to the empirical and practical literature on adoption and foster care experiences.

Objectives

• To analyze strategies, strengths, and supports that facilitate well-being for individuals in adoptive and foster care families across the lifespan
• To examine factors that improve the efficacy of programs and, where appropriate, recommend improvements to adoption and foster care policy and practice
• To identify obstacles that hinder potential participants from including their voices in research regarding adoption and foster care experiences, policy, and practice; and consider potential solutions

Subject Codes: fostercare, adoption, relationship quality
Population Codes: adoptive parent, foster parent, foster child
Method and Approach Codes: applied research, content analysis, quantitative methodology