Handbook of Adoption: Implications for Researchers, Practitioners, and Families

585 Pages·2006·4.495 MB·English

by  Rafael Art Javier, Amanda L. Baden, Frank A. Biafora, Alina Camacho-Gingerich

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DEDICATIONS
RAFAEL A. JAVIER
To all those who gave me a better appreciation of the adoption experience in all its complexity. To my
nephew, Bill (Sasha) Homolka, who made me an adopted uncle and to Jenna Stern, who not only enriched
the life of her adopted mother (my neighbor and colleague), but mine as well. I also dedicate this book to my
friend and colleague, Dale Hahn, whose willingness to share her personal journey of her adoption experience
had a profound impact on me. Finally, I dedicate this book to all the members of the adoption triad.
AMANDA BADEN
I’d like to dedicate this book and all of the work that went into it to my parents, Leon and Marianne Baden,
my sister, Rebecca Baden-Eberwein, and my loving husband, Michael Glicksman. They are both the source
of my strength and my inspiration for the work that I do in adoption.
FRANK A. BIAFORA
To LeaAnn, the woman who, during the creation of this book, started out as my best friend and became my
bride by the end. You were my strength and my sounding board throughout this entire process.
ALINA CAMACHO-GINGERICH
I would like to dedicate this book to my mother, Dr. Daria Rivero, who many years after her death continues
to be my inspiration; to my husband, Willard; and my children, Tanya and Daniel, for their love and support
in all my endeavors.
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Handbook of
ADOPTION
Implications for Researchers, Practitioners, and Families
Rafael A. Javier
St. John’s University
Amanda L. Baden
Montclair State University
Frank A. Biafora
St. John’s University
Alina Camacho-Gingerich
St. John’s University
Preface by David Brodzinsky
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Copyright © 2007 by Sage Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information:
Sage Publications, Inc.
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, California 91320
E-mail: [email protected]
Sage Publications Ltd.
1 Oliver’s Yard
55 City Road
London EC1Y 1SP
United Kingdom
Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd.
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Post Box 4109
New Delhi 110 017 India
Printed in the United States of America.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Handbook of adoption : implications for researchers, practitioners, and families / edited by
Rafael A. Javier...[et al.].
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-4129-2750-1 or 978-1-4129-2750-5 (cloth)
ISBN 1-4129-2751-X or 978-1-4129-2751-2 (pbk.)
1. Adoption. 2. Adoption—Research. I. Javier, Rafael Art.
HV875.J38 2007
362.734—dc22 2006025203
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
06 07 08 09 10 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Acquiring Editor: Kassie Graves
Editorial Assistant: Veronica Novak
Project Editor: Astrid Virding
Copyeditor: Quads
Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd.
Proofreader: Scott Oney
Indexer: Kathy Paparchontis
Cover Designer: Janet Foulger
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Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Foreword xiii
David Brodzinsky
1. Breaking the Seal: Taking Adoption Issues to the
Academic and Professional Communities 1
Rafael A. Javier, Amanda L. Baden, Frank A. Biafora,
Alina Camacho-Gingerich, and Douglas B. Henderson
PART I: Foundation 15
Preface by Frank A. Biafora
2. Toward a Sociology of Adoption: Historical Deconstruction 17
Dawn Esposito and Frank A. Biafora
3. Adoption Data and Statistical Trends 32
Frank A. Biafora and Dawn Esposito
4. A Legal History of Adoption and Ongoing Legal Challenges 44
Madelyn Freundlich
PART II: Theoretical Issues in Adoption 59
Preface by Rafael A. Javier
5. Developmental Challenges for Adoptees Across the Life Cycle 61
Michael F. McGinn
6. Adoptive Identity: How Contexts Within and
Beyond the Family Shape Developmental Pathways 77
Harold D. Grotevant, Nora Dunbar,
Julie K. Kohler, and Amy M. Lash Esau
7. The Cultural-Racial Identity Model:
A Theoretical Framework for Studying Transracial Adoptees 90
Amanda L. Baden and Robbie J. Steward
PART III: Transracial and International Adoption 113
Preface by Amanda L. Baden
8. Putting Culture Into Context: The Impact of
Attitudes Toward the Adoption of Chinese Adoptees 117
Amanda L. Baden
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9. Moving Beyond the Controversy of the Transracial Adoption of
Black and Biracial Children 133
Rhonda M. Roorda
10. International Adoption of Latin American Children:
Psychological Adjustment, Cultural, and Legal Issues 149
Alina Camacho-Gingerich, Susan Branco-Rodriguez,
Raúl Ernesto Pitteri, and Rafael A. Javier
11. From the Ashes of War: Lessons From 50 Years of
Korean International Adoption 160
Hollee A. McGinnis
PART IV: Special Issues in Adoption 171
Preface by Amanda L. Baden
12. Open Adoptions: Longitudinal Outcomes for the Adoption Triad 175
Ruth G. McRoy, Harold D. Grotevant,
Susan Ayers-Lopez, and Susan M. Henney
13. Single-Parent Adoptions and Clinical Implications 190
Behnaz Pakizegi
14. The Special Needs of Special-Needs Adoptees and Their Families 217
Elizabeth J. Keagy and Barbara A. Rall
15. Double Stigma: The Impact of Adoption Issues on
Lesbian and Gay Adoptive Parents 228
Carol Anderson Boyer
16. The Importance of Kinship Relationships for Children in Foster Care 242
Kathleen M. Doyle
17. School Issues and Adoption: Academic Considerations and Adaptation 256
Francine Fishman and Elliotte Sue Harrington
PART V: Training and Education for Adoption Therapy Competence 281
Preface by Rafael A. Javier
18. Variations in Clinical Issues for Children Adopted as
Infants and Those Adopted as Older Children 283
Joyce Maguire Pavao
19. Counseling Adoption Triad Members: Making a Case for
Adoption Training for Counselors and Clinical Psychologists 293
Theresa Kennedy Porch
20. Psychologists’ Self-Reported Adoption Knowledge and the
Need for More Adoption Education 312
Daniel A. Sass and Douglas B. Henderson
PART VI: Research Findings in Adoption Work 323
Preface by Rafael A. Javier
21. Research Contributions: Strengthening Services for
Members of the Adoption Triad 327
Madelyn Freundlich
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22. Birth Mothers and Subsequent Children: The Role of
Personality Traits and Attachment History 348
Mary Jo Carr
23. Identity, Psychological Adjustment, Culture, and Race:
Issues for Transracial Adoptees and the Cultural-Racial Identity Model 359
Amanda L. Baden
24. Adoptees’ and Birth Parents’ Therapeutic
Experiences Related to Adoption 379
Douglas B. Henderson, Daniel A. Sass, and Jeanna Carlson (née Webster)
PART VII: Assessment and Treatment Issues in Adoption 399
Preface by Rafael A. Javier
25. Why Has the Mental Health Community Been Silent on Adoption Issues? 403
Douglas B. Henderson
26. The Inner Life of the Adopted Child: Adoption,
Trauma, Loss, Fantasy, Search, and Reunion 418
Betty Jean Lifton
27. Birth Parents in Adoption: Using Research to Inform Practice 425
Amanda L. Baden and Mary O’Leary Wiley
28. Relinquishment as a Critical Variable in the Treatment of Adoptees 445
Ronald J. Nydam
29. Psychoanalytic Understanding and Treatment of the Adoptee 461
Christopher Deeg
30. Psychic Homelessness Related to Reactive Attachment Disorder:
Dutch Adult Foreign Adoptees Struggling With Their Identity 474
René Hoksbergen and Jan ter Laak
31. “I Don’t Know You”: Transference and
Countertransference Paradigms With Adoptees 491
Janet Rivkin Zuckerman and Betty Buchsbaum
PART VIII: Poetic Reflections and Other Creative Processes From Adoptees 505
Preface by Alina Camacho-Gingerich
32. Reflections 509
Penny Callan Partridge, Christian Langworthy, and Sarah Saffian
PART IX: Conclusion 525
33. The Future of Adoption: A Call to Action 527
Frank A. Biafora, Rafael A. Javier,
Amanda L. Baden, and Alina Camacho-Gingerich
Resource Guide 538
Index 543
About the Editors 555
About the Contributors 557
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List of Figures and Tables
Figure 3.1. Estimated Number of Total Adoptions (1957–2001) 36
Figure 3.2. Total Adoptions by State (2000 and 2001) 37
Figure 3.3. Percentage of All Adoptions in the United States by Type 38
Figure 3.4. International Adoption (1989–2004):Immigrant Visas
Issued to Orphans 40
Figure 4.1. Legal History of Adoption Timeline 55
Figure 7.1. Cultural Identity Axis 101
Figure 7.2. Racial Identity Axis 102
Figure 7.3. The Cultural-Racial Identity Model 103
Figure 7.4. Depictions of the 16 Cells of the Cultural-Racial Identity Model 104
Figure 7.5. Parental Attitudes and Characteristics Model for
Affirming/Discounting Environments 106
Table 8.1. Immigration Visas Issued to Orphans From the U.S.
State Department by Year 119
Table 8.2. Race/Ethnicity Reported on U.S. Census of 2000
and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and
Reporting System for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 126
Table 12.1. Nine-Category Openness Definitions 178
Table 12.2. Birth Mothers’ Nine-Category Openness at Wave 1 and Wave 2 179
Table 12.3. Relationship Between Birth Mother’s Openness Category and
Satisfaction With Openness at Wave 2 180
Table 12.4. Adolescents’ Satisfaction With Birth Mother Contact:
Reasons for Those Having and Not Having Contact 185
Table 13.1. Clinical Implications for Work With Single Adoptive
Parents and Adoptees 203
Table 20.1. Percentage of Courses With Adoption Content 317
Table 22.1. Marital Status of Participants 353
Table 22.2. The Relationship Between Number of Children and
Pressure to Relinquish 354