NCJ Number
57652
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO FOSTERING OR ADOPTION AS ALTERNATIVES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE ABUSIVE FAMILIES. THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE TWO ALTERNATIVES ARE STUDIED.
Abstract
PROFESSIONALS, CHARGED WITH PROTECTING THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN, HAVE SOUGHT TO AVOID OR POSTPONE FINAL DECISIONS AS TO WHETHER CHILDREN SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS. WHILE THIS MAY MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR PROFESSIONALS, THE CHILDREN SUFFER AS THEY ARE SHUFFLED BETWEEN THEIR PARENTS, FOSTER HOMES, AND INSTITUTIONS. PROFESSIONALS SELDOM CONSIDER SUCH QUESTIONS AS WHAT TYPE OF HOME IS MOST SUITABLE FOR THESE CHILDREN, WHETHER SUCH HOMES ARE AVAILABLE, WHAT SUPPORT SERVICES WILL BE NEEDED, AND WHAT THE CHANCES ARE FOR A SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT. DECISIONS IN THIS AREA MAY BE EASIER TO MAKE IF PROFESSIONALS UNDERSTAND THE ESSENTIAL ROLE WHICH A GOOD FAMILY SITUATION PLAYS IN MEETING CHILDREN'S EMOTIONAL NEEDS FOR STABILITY AND CONTINUITY. MOST FOSTER HOME PLACEMENTS ARE UNLIKELY TO FULFILL SUCH NEEDS. WHILE THERE ARE MANY DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH ADOPTION, IT IS CLEAR THAT ADOPTION OFFERS ABUSED CHILDREN THE BEST HOPE FOR A HOME ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY CAN THRIVE PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND INTELLECTUALLY. KADUSHIN'S STUDY (1970) OF THE ADOPTION OF ABUSED CHILDREN FOUND THAT ADOPTION WAS SUCCESSFUL IN 73 TO 82 PERCENT OF THE CASES STUDIED. THE ADVANTAGES OF MAKING EARLY DECISIONS AS TO WHERE ABUSED CHILDREN WILL BE FINALLY PLACED ARE NUMEROUS. HOWEVER, THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH DECISIONS BEING MADE DEPENDS UPON CONTINUED EFFORTS BY THE LEGAL, MEDICAL, AND SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP).