Assessing the Field of Post-Adoption Services:
Family Needs, Program Models, and Evaluation Issues

Summary Report

Submitted by:
Deborah Gibbs and Kristin Siebenaler
RTI International

Richard P. Barth
University of North Carolina School of Social Work
Contract No. 100-99-0006

Submitted to:
Laura Feig Radel
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

Funded by:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children’s Bureau

November 2002

This report is available on the Internet at:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/post-adoption01/summary/

"Printer Friendly" version of report (in PDF format):
Report

Contents

Executive Summary

Chapters

1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
   • 2.1 Need for Post-Adoption Services and Supports
     • 2.1.1 Indicators of Adoption Success
     • 2.1.2 Use of Adoption Subsidies for Services and Supports
   • 2.2 Studies of Adoptive Families
     • 2.2.1 Characteristics of Adoptive Families
     • 2.2.2 Satisfaction with Adoption
     • 2.2.3 Child Characteristics
   • 2.3 Demand for Post-adoption Services and Supports in Adoptive Families
     • 2.3.1 Information Services
     • 2.3.2 Clinical Services
     • 2.3.3 Respite Care
     • 2.3.4 Material Services
     • 2.3.5 Support Networks
   • 2.4 Post-adoption Services and Supports Programs in Operation or Development
     • 2.4.1 Public Agency-Supported Services
     • 2.4.2 Impact of Federal Legislative Changes
     • 2.4.3 Private and International Adoptions
   • 2.5 Evaluation of Post-Adoption Services and Supports Programs
   • 2.6 Discussion
3. Case Studies
   • 3.1 Methods
   • 3.2 Need for PAS
   • 3.3 PAS Program Structure
   • 3.4 Program Goals and Objectives
   • 3.5 Eligibility
   • 3.6 Funding
   • 3.7 Outreach and Referral
   • 3.8 Services Offered
   • 3.9 Subsidies and Other Forms of Supports
   • 3.10 Discussion
     • 3.10.1 Need for PAS
     • 3.10.2 Characteristics of Programs
4. Evaluation Issues
   • 4.1 Current and Recent PAS Evaluations
     • 4.1.1 Types of Evaluations Conducted
     • 4.1.2 Services and Programs Evaluated
     • 4.1.3 Data Collection Methods
   • 4.2 Evaluation Barriers and Facilitators
     • 4.2.1 Common Barriers to Evaluation
     • 4.2.2 Barriers Specific to PAS
     • 4.2.3 Evaluation Facilitators
   • 4.3 Future Directions in PAS Evaluation
     • 4.3.1 Fundamental Evaluation Tools
     • 4.3.2 Strategies to Facilitate Evaluation
5. Secondary Data Analysis
   • 5.1 Administrative Data on Adoptions
   • 5.2 Adoption Disruption, Dissolution, and Supports in North Carolina
     • 5.2.1 Data Resources and Study Population
     • 5.2.2 Adoption Dissolution
     • 5.2.3 Adoption Disruption
     • 5.2.4 Adoption Subsidies
   • 5.3 Adoption Subsidies in California
     • 5.3.1 Data Resources and Study Populations
     • 5.3.2 CLAS Data on Services and Subsidies
     • 5.3.3 Amount and Direction of Payment Changes
     • 5.3.4 Reasons for Payment Changes
     • 5.3.5 Multivariate Analysis of Payment Changes
   • 5.4 Discussion
     • 5.4.1 Substantive Findings
     • 5.4.2 Data System Issues
6. Conclusions and Future Directions
   • 6.1 What Is the Extent of Need for PAS?
     • 6.1.1 Indicators of Need for PAS
     • 6.1.2 Demand for PAS
     • 6.1.3 Service Needs
     • 6.1.4 Role of Adoption Subsidies
     • 6.1.5 Satisfaction with Existing Services
   • 6.2 What Are the Characteristics of Existing PAS Programs?
     • 6.2.1 Program Models
     • 6.2.2 Eligibility
     • 6.2.3 Funding
     • 6.2.4 Services Offered
     • 6.2.5 Service Delivery Approaches
     • 6.2.6 Influencing the Service System
   • 6.3 How Are PAS Programs Assessing Their Effectiveness?
     • 6.3.1 Evidence-Based Treatment Models
     • 6.3.2 Facilitating Evaluation
     • 6.3.3 Evaluation Incentives
   • 6.4 Research Agenda for PAS

Appendix Bibliography A-1

Where to?

Top of Page

Contents of Report

Home Pages:
Assessing the Field of Post-Adoption Services project web site
Human Services Policy (HSP)
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Last updated:  06/12/03