The Family to Family Adoption Support Program: A Current Approach to Supporting Those Involved In Infant Adoption
- Identify significant changes in adoption practices.
- Implement current and accurate adoption language while working with this population.
- Identify the four areas addressed in this program and how each impacts patients and their families.
Proposed change:
The purpose of the Family to Family Adoption Support Program is to address the needs of all parties involved in infant adoption placements. The needs of these patients and their families are new and complex! Because of this, we must change the way we support these families around the time of delivery to better match the current trends in adoption. Studies show that closed adoptions are now only found in 12% of placements; the remaining 88% participate in an open or semi-open adoption plan. In these arrangements, often adoptive families are present during doctor’s appointment, tours, during the delivery and postpartum time. This makes a typical delivery multi-faceted; emotionally and physically. Nursing education and practices must reflect this change in openness.
Implementation, outcomes and evaluation:
This program has greatly impacted our care of four groups of people: Those considering adoption, those preparing for a scheduled adoption, those experiencing a hospital placement, and those needing post-adoption resources. Infant Adoption Initiative Training is mandatory for all BirthPlace staff and is the core of the comprehensive program that addresses the intricate needs of these patients. Over 90% of our NICU and OB staff has attended this 8-hour class. The grant-based training includes accurate and current language, current adoption trends and clarifies the concept of ambiguous grief involved in adoption. The positive feedback from the staff has been phenomenal. The nurses, doctors, and support staff have all been powerfully impacted by implementing this training with our patients and their families.
Implications for nursing practice:
The most powerful result of the Family to Family Adoption Support Program has been the way it has empowered our nursing staff to support families. The families are supported in the BirthPlace by classes offered, added support during adoption placements, and resources available for post adoption support. We have had 100% positive feedback from all parties involved: Staff, birth families, adoptive families and adoption agencies!
Keywords: adoption, family, relinquishment, training, Family to Family
