Adoptions are wonderful when they are successful. There is no greater joy than that that comes from the union of child and parent.
But not all adoptions make it; and when they do fall through, everyone loses. Divorce has been compared to death. The feelings of loss, grief, and failure can be overwhelming. How much more devastating is a broken adoption, especially to the children?.
The Dark Side Of Adoption .
Disruption is the term used when the adoption process disintegrates before the adoption is finalized. Dissolution is the term used after the adoption is finalized.
Statistics:.
The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse reports:.
Adoption disruption and dissolution rates have remained relatively consistent over the past 15 years, ranging between 10 and 20 percent, depending on the type of adoption (Boyne, Denby, Kettenring, Wheeler, 1984; Groze, 1986; Barth and Berry, 1988).
Infant placements have the lowest rate of disruption, at less than one percent (Barth and Berry, 1988). As for children placed out of the public child welfare system, the risk of disruption increases as the child ages (Boyne, Denby, Kettenring, Wheeler, 1984; Barth and Berry, 1988).
The overall decrease in disruption percentages in 1988 from 1984 can be traced to the introduction of post-adoption services, an important factor in containing the number of adoption disruptions.
Factors contributing to disruptions and dissolutions:.
There is no single factor resulting in a disruption or dissolution, but a combination of several:.
The child's age: The older the child, the higher the risk for disruption. Infants experience a greater level of success.
Behaviors that include sexual acting out, physical aggression, stealing, vandalism, defiance, and suicide attempts.
Physical and developmental disabilities.
Abusive birth and adoptive family relationships and unstable peer interaction.
Multiple placements, including relative, residential, hospitals, group homes, and foster care.