Don't give up the adoptee - The Research of Adoption Dissolution in Taiwan

2015BASPCAN New Directions in Child Protection and Wellbeing: Making a real difference to childrens lives

Dont give up the adoptee - The research of adoption dissolution in TaiwanEmily Yueh-Mi Lai, PhD yuehmilai@hotmail.com Director, Family Mediation Association Taiwan Assistant Professor, The Department of Social Work, Tzu Chi University, Taiwan

Research purposes1.disclose the situation and reason of adoption dissolution. 2.expose the risk factors of adoption dissolution. 3.find out copying strategy to avoid adoption dissolution.

Chinese adoption systemoriginated in the Western Zhou Dynasty patriarchal system(about 3000 years ago) for the purpose for the ancient for the family for the parents

The change of Adoption Act in TaiwanLaw change Civil Law, Family Lawthe Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act, take into account the best interest of the children

A.Adoption shall be effected in writing and petitioned for the courts approval(Civil Law 1079)

B.The court shall approve the adoption of the minor based upon the best interest of the adoptive child(Civil Law 1079-1)

C.A minor of younger than seven years of age shall make the declaration of intention and accept the declaration of intention through his/her statutory agent when he/she is to be adopted. A minor older than seven years of age shall obtain the consent of his/her statutory agent when he is to be adopted(Civil Law 1076-2)

D.Order the adopter to live with the children and youth for a certain period. During the period of living together, the adopter will be responsible for the children and youths interests and needs (The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act17).

E.The adoption matching services agency will conduct the necessary interviews for the adoption before accepting the consignment, and make an assessment report. (The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act17)

F.Parents and guardians unable to take responsibility for their childrens maintenance and are considering adoption will entrust the adoption matching services agency to search for an appropriate adopter, in private adoptions only close kinship relatives and stepfamily adoption(The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act16).

G.Only adoption matching services can undertake the placement and education of children and youth by incorporated foundations and public/private institutes subject to the approval of the authorized agency(The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act16).

H.In accordance with the Hague Convention on international adoption considers the national adopter as priority (The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act16).

I.The court will adapt the measures before confirming the adoption of children and youth for the courts reference. For example, order the adopter to attend preparation courses for parental education, mental appraisals, drug and alcohol tests or the necessary issues that protect the best interests of the children and youth; any expenses will be at the cost of the adopter(The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act16).

Research methodsqualitative methodologyquestionnaire survey, focus group and interviewing44 questionnaires of adoption dissolutionIn focus group and interviewing, it included 44 interviewees- 1 adoptee, 5 adoptive parents, 1 birth parent, 26 social workers, 7 Judges, and 4 Court Administrators.

44 questionnaires of adoption dissolution

Adoptee personal factors

Adoptee personal factors

Adoptive family factors

Adoptive family factors

Adoptive family factors

Adoption agencies factors

Adoption agencies factors

Focus groups and individual interviews analysis

The risk factors of adoption dissolutionThe adoptee factors1. The adoptee with delinquent behavior

Many adoption dissolution happened after the adoptee with delinquent behavior. (Social worker 21)

The adoptee factors

2. The older age of the adoptee, the greater chances of adoption dissolution

Whatever, national or international adoption, the greater the risk in older age of the adoptee, the greater chances of adoption dissolution. (Social worker 7)

The adoptee factors3. To assist the adoptee adapt

Children changed many environments, especially for families with children in foster care, more difficult to establish with adoptive family. (Social worker 10)

The adoptee factors4. If adoptee attached the birth family, it is difficult to establish attachment with adoptive families

One summer vacation, she wanted to contact her biological father and she wanted to be with her father. And I said, yes. After all, she is his daughter. (Adoptive parent 2)

The adoptee factorsThe birth telling

If no one talks to adoptee about the birth telling and adoption, when the adoptee found out he was adopted by himself, it is easier to him whole personality change, causing him completely unable to behave well. (Court Administrator 3)

The adoptee factors fantasy and expectations of birth family

He found that he was originally adopted child, he wanted to find their families. Finally, he found his own brother, however the brother took him to steal! (Judge7)

The adoptive family factors1. The philosophy of adoption

My husband thought very simple, and he taught me to report the adoptee is my nature child, but I do not want to do that. (Adoptive parent 3) My birth father sold me to my adoptive mother. And she bought me, might want to me to look after her when she was getting old. (Adoptee1)

The adoptive family factors2. Stepparent adoption

Some stepparents adopt a child after marriage is to let the kids have a sense of belonging. (Court Administrator 2) Like some mothers remarried, and they required kids to be adopted by the step father, also to change the surname. Once remarried, the kid was adopted and changed the surname. (Court Administrator 2)

The adoptive family factors3. Surname change

Some childrens voices, my mother has been remarried, he felt annoying that this has been a change of surname. (Court Administrator 4)

The adoptive family factors4. The parenting capacity of adoptive family

She was not a mother, she was like ... I was her accessories. And she controlled me and she did not care for me. When I was 10 years old, and I was alone and sick seriously, no one rescued me. (Adoptee1)

The adoptive family factors5. Adoptive parents unable to discipline the adopteeWhen the adoptee studied junior high school, and he became difficult and irreversible to be disciplined by adoptive parents, the adoptive parents maybe go to court to terminate the adoption. (Social worker 11)

The adoptive family factors6. Re-adoption with high-risk

We all thought that the early success of raising a child, they would be good parents for the re-adoption. However, we found a very high failure rate is the re-adoption, there may be a reason because it is the first adoptee behaved very well, then they thought easier for the second adoptee. (Social worker 7)

The adoptive family factors7. Adoptive mother was pregnant after adoption

Suddenly, adoptive mother was pregnant after adoption. (Social worker 6)

The adoptive family factors8. No ideas about birth telling

Adoptive parents had lots of excuses in birth telling. Such as, children too young to do it! Later and later, they just escape and avoid to talking about it. (Social worker 12) She (the adoptee) might know a little about the adoption. I guess. (Adoptive parent 3)

The birth parent factors1. The inability to take care of kids

Mom reported the Social Department, said she did not have the ability to raise his children, please help her. (Adoptive parent 2)

The birth parent factors2. The dependent behavioral factors

Mother's life is relatively indiscretion, she had a cohabiting boyfriend. Also, she had several children, and she asked me to borrow money. (Adoptive parent 2)

The birth parent factors3. The time for adoption

She was not really ready to be a mother. We helped her to think careful and to look after her kid by herself. We tried almost two years, the mother was still unstable, finally she believed that she had no ready to be a mother. (Social worker 18)

The institutional factors

1. Lack of fully communication and message Have to be very careful, especially in the medical information in the context of child care. If there had some things happened not the adoptive family excepted, they would not accept it. (Social worker10)

The institutional factors2. The organization of long-term companionship Our service is long. Our institution is more than 20 years, and we provide the adoption service to a adoptive family may more than 20 years, in such a long period of time. (Social worker 22)

The institutional factors3. The agency report quality

I often ask social workers, we should write the report very objective. (Social worker 18)

The difference adoption concept between Literature Review and Taiwan

Literature ReviewTaiwanThe concept of adoption For childFor family, conservativeand traditional The reason of adoptioninfertilityFor familyThe approach of adoptionAgency (Open adoption)Private adoption(law change since 2011)Birth tellingOK (Open adoption)NO(secret)Adoptee age when be adoptedAllLess Than 1year oldAdoptee with diseaseAllhealthStep parent adoptionincreasing

Conclusion

The risk factors of adoption dissolution included:The adoptee characteristics: older age, emotional and behavioral disorder, sibling separation ,

The adoptee characteristicsspecial needs, poor health, difficulty in attachment, many placements before adoption.

The adopter family characteristicstheir elders force them to adopt kids,too high expectation for kids performance, lack of parenting , no experience of caring , unstable marriage, pregnancy after adoption, negative personality

The adopter family characteristicsfinancial problem, misconceptions of adoption, adoptive father helps less in caring, step parent adoption, surname change, adopt again another kids.

The agency characteristicsunprofessional in matching, insufficient service quality and assistance, unfit family needs, inadequate information.

SuggestionsNo private adoption -most of minor child adoption dissolution through private adoption. Support system- Taiwan Government and adoption agency should actively provide assistance for adoption, and post-adoption supportive services available and accessible to protect the best interests of the child.Adoption Act

Adoption for Love & Adoption for Kids

Thanks for listening!