NCJ Number
158343
Date Published
1995
Length
120 pages
Annotation
Just as the decision to adopt should be made with thought and care, the decision to adopt a child with prenatal alcohol and/or other drug exposure should be made only after consideration of the added challenges.
Abstract
Designed primarily for professionals, the book offers practical suggestions and recommendations to help individuals decide whether to adopt a child who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol and/or other drugs. The book is intended to fill information gaps on issues faced by adoption workers and prospective adoptive parents, recognizing that information is limited on children prenatally exposed to alcohol and/or other drugs and on preadoption counseling for individuals who are considering adopting a child with prenatal substance exposure. Data on prenatal substance abuse indicate that over 4.8 million women of childbearing age use illicit drugs and that between 554,000 and 739,000 infants are born each year with prenatal exposure to alcohol and/or other drugs. Ways in which these infants and children enter the adoption process are identified, and practical intervention strategies for working with infants, toddlers, and older children are described. Limitations of existing research on prenatal substance exposure are discussed, as well as the health and development of infants and children who have been exposed to alcohol and/or other drugs in utero and unique considerations for prospective parents who are contemplating the adoption of special needs children. References