Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T00:04:52.307Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

General public perceptions and motivations to adopt children from out-of-home care in New South Wales, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2019

Betty Luu Open the ORCID record for Betty Luu [Opens in a new window] ,
Amy Conley Wright  and
Melanie Randle
Betty Luu*
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney, Institute of Open Adoption Studies, Sydney School of Education and Social Work, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
Amy Conley Wright
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney, Institute of Open Adoption Studies, Sydney School of Education and Social Work, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
Melanie Randle
Affiliation:
University of Wollongong, School of Management, Operations and Marketing, Faculty of Business, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Betty Luu, Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Recent reforms in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, prioritise adoption over long-term foster care. While previous research has examined motivation to foster, less is known about the interest by the general public in adoption from out-of-home care. A general sample of the NSW public (N = 1030) completed an online survey about adoption practices and their willingness to consider adopting from out-of-home care, with background questions on perceived social support and life satisfaction. Barriers to pursuing adoption were identified, including concerns about the characteristics of the child related to their experiences of care and personal impacts including financial costs. Availability of post-adoption supports was viewed positively as increasing interest in adoption. General Linear Model univariate analyses identified that likelihood of considering adoption was primarily predicted by younger age, knowing someone who had been adopted as a child, actively practicing religion, living in the city rather than a regional area and higher life satisfaction. Customised marketing campaigns can target people more likely to consider adoption, with messages that resonate with their social and psychological characteristics. There is also a need for policy changes to ensure adequate provision of post-adoption support.

Keywords

Open adoptionout-of-home carefoster careadoptersmotivation to adoptbarriers to adoptionconsidering adoption
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 44 , Issue 4 , December 2019 , pp. 212 - 222
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec). (2018). Inquiry into open adoption: AbSec submission. New South Wales: AbSec. Retrieved from https://www.absec.org.au/images/downloads/AbSec-Submission-Inquiry-into-Adoption-May-2018.pdf Google Scholar
Adopt Change. (2015). Modern families: Attitudes and perceptions of adoption in Australia. Retrieved from https://engonetac.blob.core.windows.net/assets/uploads/files/Assets/FINAL-AdoptChange-ResearchAugust2015.pdf Google Scholar
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System Data. (2017). Trends in foster care and adoption, FY2007 – FY2016. U.S. Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children, Youth and Families. Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/trends_fostercare_adoption_07thru16.pdf Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Education and work, Australia, May 2017, cat. no. 6227.0. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/Lookup/6227.0Main+Features1May%202017?OpenDocument Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2018). Labour force, Australia, August 2018, cat. no. 6202.0. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/DetailsPage/6202.0August%202018?OpenDocument Google Scholar
Australian Human Rights Commission. (2012). Face the facts: Some questions and answers about indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees and asylum seekers. Retrieved from https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/racial_discrimination/face_facts/ftf_2012_web.pdf Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Family Studies. (1992). Adoption law in Australia . Australian family briefings 1. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare AIHW. (2018). Adoptions Australia 2017–18. Child Welfare Series no. 69. Cat. no. CWS 66. Canberra: AIHW.Google Scholar
Bausch, R. S. (2006). Predicting willingness to adopt a child: A consideration of demographic and attitudinal factors. Sociological Perspectives, 49(1), 47–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beek, M., & Schofield, G. (2002). Foster carers’ perspectives on permanence. A focus group study. Adoption and Fostering, 26(2), 14–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cashmore, J. (2014). Children in the out-of-home care system. Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia, 143–150. Retrieved from https://aifs.gov.au/publications/families-policy-and-law/15-children-out-home-care-system Google Scholar
Ciarrochi, J., Randle, M., Miller, L., & Dolnicar, S. (2012). Hope for the future: Identifying the individual difference characteristics of people who are interested in and intend to foster-care. British Journal of Social Work, 42(1), 7–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Courville, T., & Thompson, B. (2001). Use of structure coefficients in published multiple regression articles: β is not enough. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 61(2), 229–248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. (2013). National foster care: Adoption attitudes survey. Retrieved from https://dciw4f53l7k9i.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/DTFA-HarrisPoll-REPORT-USA-FINALl.pdf Google Scholar
Denby, R. W., Alford, K. A., & Ayala, J. (2011). The journey to adopt a child who has special needs: Parents’ perspectives. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(9), 1543–1554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Department for Education DfE. (2017). Children looked after in England (including adoption), year ending 31 March 2017. SFR 50/2017. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2016-to-2017 Google Scholar
Diener, E., Emmons, R., Larsen, R., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. (2002). National adoption attitudes survey. Retrieved from https://www.adoptioninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Adoption_Attitudes_Survey.pdf Google Scholar
Ferrerira, S. (2014). Open adoption: Creating permanency and continuity. Australian Journal of Adoption, 8(1), 1–11.Google Scholar
Higgins, D. (2010). Impact of past adoption practices: Summary of key issues from Australian research. Canberra: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/pastadoptionreport.pdf Google Scholar
Higgins, D. J. (2012). Past and present adoptions in Australia. Melbourne, VIC: Australian Institute of Family Studies.Google Scholar
Keith, T. Z. (2006). Multiple regression and beyond. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.Google Scholar
Kenny, P., Higgins, D., Soloff, C., & Sweid, R. (2012). Past adoption experiences: National research study on the service response to past adoption practices. Melbourne, VIC: Australian Institute of Family Studies.Google Scholar
Khanna, N., & Killian, C. (2015). “We didn’t even think about adopting domestically” The role of race and other factors in shaping parents’ decisions to adopt abroad. Sociological Perspectives, 58(4), 570–594.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luu, B., Collings, S., Wright, A. C., Pope, S., & Spencer, M. (2018). Open adoption of children in NSW out-of-home care: Foster carers’ perceptions about the motivations and barriers. Sydney: Institute of Open Adoption Studies, The University of Sydney. Retrieved from https://sydney.edu.au/content/dam/corporate/documents/faculty-of-arts-and-social-sciences/research/research-centres-institutes-groups/open-adoption-studies/fostercarer-fullreport-jun2018.pdf Google Scholar
Malm, K., & Welti, K. (2010). Exploring motivations to adopt. Adoption Quarterly, 13(3–4), 185–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meyers, L. S., Gamst, G., & Guarino, A. J. (2006). Applied multivariate research: Design and interpretation. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.Google Scholar
Moye, J., & Rinker, R. (2002). It’s a hard knock life: Does the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 adequately address problems in the child welfare system? Harvard Journal on Legislation, 37, 375–394.Google Scholar
NSW Family and Community Services. (2018). Open adoption information for carers. NSW: Family and Community Services. Retrieved from https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0004/336631/Open-Adoption-Information-for-Carers.pdf Google Scholar
NSW Legislation. (2019). Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) (Austl.). Retrieved from https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/1998/157/full Google Scholar
Randle, M., Miller, L., Dolnicar, S., & Ciarrochi, J. (2014). The science of attracting foster carers. Child & Family Social Work, 19(1), 65–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, N. M., & Cashmore, J. (2016). Adoption reforms New South Wales style: A comparative look. Australian Journal of Family Law 51, 30(1), 51–75 Google Scholar
Sargent, S. (2003). Adoption and looked after children: A comparison of legal initiatives in the UK and the USA. Adoption & Fostering, 27(2), 44–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, A., & Duncan, C. (2013). Understanding attitudes, motivations and barriers to adoption and fostering: A marketing proposal for the Department for Education. London: Department for Education.Google Scholar
Sloan, B. (2013). Conflicting rights: English adoption law and the implementation of the UN convention on the rights of the child. Child and Family Law Quarterly, 25(1), 40–60.Google Scholar
Smith, A. (2018, June 5). Funding boost for out-of-home care adoption in NSW. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/funding-boost-for-out-of-home-care-adoption-in-nsw-20180604-p4zjf3.html Google Scholar
SNAICC. (2018). Inquiry into local adoption submission to the house of representatives standing committee on social policy and legal affairs. Victoria: SNAICC. Retrieved from https://www.snaicc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/SNAICC_Submission-Inquiry_into_Local_Adoption-May_2018.pdf Google Scholar
Tilbury, C., Burton, J., Sydenham, E., Boss, R., & Louw, T. (2013). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child placement principle: Aims and core elements. North Fitzroy, VIC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care.Google Scholar
Tregeagle, S., Moggach, L., Cox, E., & Voigt, L. (2014). A pathway from long-term care to adoption: Findings from an Australian permanency programme. Adoption & Fostering, 38(2), 115–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tyebjee, T. (2003). Attitude, interest, and motivation for adoption and foster care. Child Welfare, 82(6), 685–706.Google ScholarPubMed
Van Laningham, J. L., Scheuble, L. K., & Johnson, D. R. (2012). Social factors predicting women’s consideration of adoption. Michigan Family Review, 16(1), 1–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zimet, G., Dahlem, N., Zimet, S., & Farley, G. (1988). The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1, 30–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar