Parents who adopt children from the U.S. foster care system typically do so with assurances from the state that postadoption services will be accessible by the family, if needed, after the adoption is finalized. From the state’s perspective, the foremost purpose of these services is to ensure that the family remains intact, thereby avoiding adoption dissolution—a traumatic and costly outcome whereby the child is returned to state custody. This study looks specifically at underserved adoptive families—those who report needing specific services after adoption finalization, yet who are then unable to access these needed services through the state because of various barriers. Data for the study came from the 2012 U.S. National Adoptive Families Study, an online survey of adoptive parents (N=437) who have adopted at least 1 child from the U.S. foster care system. The data show that specific demographic groups are disproportionately represented among underserved adoptive families, and that certain critically needed postadoption services are rarely rendered by the state. The results also suggest that particular state practices and policies systematically lead to higher rates of underserved adoptive families.
Key Take Away Points Nearly 60% of adoptive families in the sample are considered underserved. Non-White adoptive families were more likely to be underserved. Adoptive families adopting older children were more likely to be underserved. Kinship adoptive families were more likely to be underserved. Respite care is a high unmet need for adoptive families. When adoptive families experienced postadoption services as not helpful the first time, they are less likely to return for needed services
