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Examine fundamental issues in promoting ethical adoption policy and practice which is in the interests of all parties to adoption.
What are the barriers to permanency for older youth in foster care? The Family Connections project seeks to find permanent homes for older youth who are free for adoption, but have no permanency resource. In addition to working to find homes for children, the project seeks to strengthen ties between youth and those who are important to them. The Center is the evaluator of this five-year project being conducted by Adoptions Unlimited.
What accounts for varying permanency rates across the State and region? Why are African American children over-represented among the population of children in care? This collaborative effort with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in the Central region and the African American Family Commission examines barriers to permanency for children in the care of DCFS.
What interventions strengthen marriages in families with challenging adoptive children? The Center is the evaluator of a demonstration project focused on marriage and adoption education with adoptive families to reduce adoption instability and improve family functioning. This five-year project is based at the Children’s Home and Aid Society of Rockford and funded by the U.S. Children’s Bureau.
Lifebooks are a valuable tool in preparing children for adoption, but they are also important for any child trying to make sense of loss, trauma and change. “Putting the Pieces Together” is a joint effort between Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and the Center to develop training for permanency workers, therapists, foster parents and adoptive parents on the importance of Lifebooks, and the tools and skills needed to use them to help children heal.
How do families cope when adopted children exhibit significant behavioral and emotional problems that threaten family stability? This research examines struggling adoptive families with children adopted from the child welfare system who are receiving specialized services to preserve the family unit. The study uses standardized pre and post measures of parenting stress, parental depression, and family coping as well as study-specific measures.
