HOW ADOPTION DISRUPTION OR BREAKDOWN CAN BE REDUCED, WITH REFERENCE TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS



By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take a chance for thanking my research facilitator, family and friends for their continuous support and for the guidance they provided without which I would have never been able to complete this research.

DECLARATION

I, (), would like to state that all contents included in this dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university. I would also like to affirm that I have abided the University's/College's prerequisites, processes, principles and guidelines.

Signature:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Introduction1

Definitions2

Theoretical framework4

Adoption legislation in UK5

Significance of the study6

Research Question7

Objectives of the Research7

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW9

Introduction9

Annotated Bibliographies9

Impact of Recent Legislation, Policies and Practice on the Adoption Process11

The Child Welfare System12

Social Workers Response to the Adoption of Children with Special Needs13

Psychological Effects of Adoption17

Loss18

Identity Formation18

Attachment Issues19

Psychological Effects of Adoption19

Benefits20

Risks20

Effects of Adoption on the Adoption Chord21

Birth Parents22

Adoptive Parents23

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY26

Introduction26

Research Plan27

Research Structure28

Advantages and Limitations of a Literature Review in this Research29

Data Collection Method33

Research Plan35

CHAPTER 4: LEARNING EVALUATION, RELEVANCE OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE37

Learning Evaluation37

Relevance of Social Work Practice39

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS43

Conclusion43

Recommendations46

REFERENCES48

BIBLOGRAPHY49

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Introduction

When an adoptive placement breaks down disruption takes place in the life of a child that require special care. Children with special needs are not capable of adjusting themselves in a new environment, as they form attachement with those people with whom they have started their life. The risk of disruption increases with the passage of time or in other words, the disruption or adoptive placement breaks with an increase in age. There is not specific age in which the children with special needs could be adopted or not, therefore, those families who wish to adopt such children should be ready to take up extreme challenges. In the early days of adoption placement most of the children go through similar kind of anxiety and stress as they are found unable to get themselves adjusted in the new family (Coakley & Berrick, 2008, p.101). In some cases, children with special needs can take several months in making themselves comfortable with the new members of the family.

The adoptive parents have to go through extreme pressure; while they are about to make a decision related to adoption of a child with special needs. UK's Adoption Support Supervisor Claire Friday have highlighted the issues and risks that is faced by the parents and children during the adoption process. Building sound and effective relationship among the child with special needs and adoptive parents require great level of patience and courage, as the process of adoption and adjustment can even extend for longer time intervals; if proper measures are not taken. Failure in formation of sound relationship or disruption among the adoptive parents and child is faced in almost 60% of the adoption cases (Coakley & Berrick, 2008, ...