“When You’re Sitting on the Fence, Hope's the Hardest Part”: Challenges and Experiences of Heterosexual and Same-Sex Couples Adopting Through the Child Welfare System

Abstract

Foster-to-adopt families can be viewed as systems that are influenced by many other systems (e.g., the legal system, the social service agency, and the birth family). The current qualitative study of 84 foster-to-adopt parents (members of 42 lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples) examined the types of challenges that parents faced as they navigated multiple systems during the initial post-placement period. Some participants described the legal insecurity associated with their role as foster-to-adopt parents as impacting their personal well-being and their attachment to their children. Lack of support services and disorganization within social service agencies, as well as strained relationships with birth parents, were also identified as stressors for foster-to-adopt parents. Importantly, lesbian and gay participants faced additional concerns regarding the security of their placement, due to the possibility for discrimination within the various systems involved with the foster-to-adopt process. Participants as a whole also identified positive aspects of their experiences within various systems; for example, they appreciated child care subsidies, state-provided health insurance, and supportive social workers. Our findings provide insights into foster-to-adopt parents’ experiences during the initial post-placement period, and have implications for adoption services aimed to improve placement stability and enhance family functioning in foster-to-adopt families.

Intimate relationship challenges in early parenthood among lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples adopting via the child welfare system.

“…This lack of time was complicated by their status as foster parents, whereby they had to abide by certain regulations regarding who could and could not babysit. In this way, dealing with the “red tape” of the social service system was experienced as stressful, consistent with prior research (Goldberg et al, 2012). Parents also discussed how not being the focus of their partners’ attention had shifted the family dynamic, creating an increasing sense of disconnection from their partners.…”

“…Parents who adopt via child welfare may also deal with challenges related to legal insecurity and the social service system, which can create stress. Namely, lack of certainty related to legalization (among parents who foster their children before adopting them) and difficulties communicating with social workers have been cited as stressors by parents adopting via child welfare (Goldberg et al, 2012). …”

Contact with birth family in adoptive families headed by lesbian, gay male, and heterosexual parents

“…Birth parents and other birth family members in the latter situations are often opposed to adoption of their children, which can undermine their ability to develop collaborative and cooperative relationships with the adoptive family chosen by the child welfare agency. Also, the type of birth parent problems associated with child removal (e.g., substance abuse, emotional problems, child neglect or abuse, domestic violence, homelessness) often make it difficult for adoptive parents to feel comfortable in initiating or maintaining contact with birth family members (Goldberg, Moyer, Kinkler, & Richardson, 2012;Neil & Howe, 2004). Despite these complications, the current study suggests a more hopeful picture for post-placement contact arrangements among adoptive and birth families in child welfare adoptions than is commonly assumed.…”

Pride and Prejudice : Lesbian Families in Contemporary Sweden

“…Once the decision to parent is grounded, the prospective mother(s) might consider several routs to parenthood depending on social conventions, personal preferences and values, legal access and economic resources etcetera (Mezey, 2008; see also Ryan-Flood, 2009;Wojnar & Katzenmeyer, 2014). One route to parenthood is to apply for adoption or to have foster children (Ausbrooks & Russel, 2011;Averett, Nalavany, & Ryan, 2009;Brown, Smalling, Groza & Ryan, 2009;Farr & Patterson, 2009;Goldberg, 2009;Goldberg, Downing & Sauck, 2007;Goldberg, Moyer, Kinkler & Richardson, 2012;Goldberg & Smith, 2011;Mallon, 2011;Ross et al, 2008;Ross, Epstein, Anderson, & Eady, 2009;Ryan & Whitlock, 2007;Woodford et al, 2010). Others choose assisted reproduction and may have donor insemination or IVF.…”