Even though children can flourish in formal (legal) adoptions, unique issues may challenge the functioning of their adoptive families. Culturally appropriate services should be designed to address specific needs of adopted children and their families. Considering the importance of research in informing policies and practices relevant to these services, little research is focused on the experiences of Black families who adopt Black children. Therefore, a literature review was conducted to learn of past and current research and to suggest future directions of research that can be useful in helping children and their families. Although research involved a variety of topics, more comprehensive research is recommended.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AlexanderL. B., HollingsworthL. D., DoreM. M., & HoopesJ. W. (2004). A family of trust: African American parents’ stories of adoption disclosure. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 74(4), 448–455.
2.
BarthR. P., BerryM., CarsonM. L., GoodfieldR., & FeinbergB. (1986). Contributors to disruption and dissolution of older-child adoptions. Child Welfare, 65(4), 359–371.
3.
BerryM. (1993). Risks and benefits of open adoption. The Future of Children, 3(1), 125–138.
4.
BerryM., & BarthR. P. (1989). Behavior problems of children adopted when older. Children and Youth Services Review, 11(3), 221–238.
5.
BillingsleyA. (1992). Climbing Jacob's ladder: The enduring legacy of African American families. New York: Simon and Schuster.
6.
BrodzinskyD. M., SmithD. W., & BrodzinskyA. B. (1998). Children's adjustment to adoption: Developmental and clinical issues. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
7.
BurrowA. L., & FinleyG. E. (2004). Transracial, same-race adoptions, and the need for multiple measures of adolescent adjustment. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 74(4), 577–583.
ElbowM., & KnightM (1987). Adoption disruption: Losses, transitions, and tasks. Social Casework, 68(9), 546–552.
11.
ErichS., & LeungP (2002). The impact of previous type of abuse and sibling adoption upon adoptive families. Child Abuse and Neglect, 26(10), 1045–1058.
12.
FestingerT. (2002). After adoption: Dissolution or permanence?Child Welfare, 81(3), 515–533.
13.
GibsonP. A. (2002). African American grandmothers as caregivers: Answering the call to help their grandchildren. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 83(1), 35–43.
14.
GibsonP. A., Nelson-ChristinedaughterJ., GrotevantH. D., & KwonH. (2005). The well-being of African American adolescents within formal and informal adoption arrangements. Adoption Quarterly, 9(1), 57–78.
15.
HairstonC. F., & WilliamsV. G. (1989). Black adoptive parents: How they view agency adoption practices. Social Casework, 70(9), 534–538.
16.
HardenB. J. (2004). Safety and stability for foster children: A developmental perspective. The Future of Children, 14(1), 31–47.
17.
HollingsworthL. D. (2000). Africentric theory as a predictor of adoption among African Americans: An exploratory study. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 9(1/2), 119–133.
18.
HoopesJ. L., AlexanderL. B., SilverP., OberG., & KirbyN. (1997). Formal adoption of the developmentally vulnerable African American child: Ten year outcomes. Marriage and Family Review, 25(3/4), 131–144.
19.
KappS. A., McDonaldT. P., & DiamondK. L. (2001). The path to adoption for children of color. Child Abuse and Neglect, 25(2), 215–229.
20.
LeungP., & ErichS (2002). Family functioning of adoptive children with special needs: Implications of familial supports and child characteristics. Children and Youth Services Review, 24(11), 799–816.
21.
MandaraJ., Gaylord-HardenN. K., RichardsM. H., & RagsdaleB. L. (2009). The effects of changes in racial identity and self-esteem on changes in African American adolescents’ mental health. Child Development, 80(6), 1660–1675.
22.
McGloneK., SantosL., KazamaL., FongR., & MuellerC. (2002). Psychological stress in adoptive parents of special-needs children. Child Welfare, 81(2), 151–171.
23.
McRoyR. G., GrotevantH. D., Ayers-LopezS., & HenneyS. M. (2007). Open adoptions: Longitudinal outcomes for the adoption triad. In JavierR. A., BadenA. L., & BiaforaF. A. (Eds.), Handbook of adoption: Implications for researchers, practitioners, and families (pp. 175–189). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
24.
NalavanyB. A., GliddenL. M., & RyanS. D. (2009). Parental satisfaction in the adoption of children with learning disorders: The role of behavior problems. Family Relations, 58(5), 621–633.
25.
NickmanS. L., RosenfeldA. A., FineP., MacintyreJ. C., PilowskyJ. J., HoweR., (2005). Children in adoptive families: Overview and update. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(10), 987–995.
26.
PinderhughesE. E. (1996). Toward understanding family readjustment following older child adoptions: The interplay between theory generation and empirical research. Children and Youth Services Review, 18(1/2), 115–138.
27.
PinderhughesE. E., & HardenB. J. (2005). Beyond the birth family: African American children reared by alternate caregivers. In McLoydV. C., HillN. E., & DodgeK. A. (Eds.), African American family life: Ecological and cultural diversity (pp. 285–310). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
28.
PraterG., & KingL. T. (1988). Experiences of Black families as adoptive parents. Social Work, 33(6), 543–545.
29.
RosenthalJ. A., & GrozeV. (1990). Special-needs adoption: A study of intact families. Social Service Review, 64(3), 475–505.
30.
SarB. K. (2000). Preparation for adoptive parenthood with a special-needs child: Role of agency preparation tasks. Adoption Quarterly, 3(4), 63–80.
31.
SchmidtD. M., RosenthalJ. A., & BombeckB. (1988). Parents’ views of adoption disruption. Children and Youth Services Review, 10(2), 119–130.
32.
ShiremanJ. F., & JohnsonP. R. (1986). A longitudinal study of Black adoptions: Single parent, transracial, and traditional. Social Work, 31(3), 172–176.
33.
SmithS. L., & HowardJ. A. (1991). A comparative study of successful and disrupted adoptions. Social Service Review, 65(2), 248–265.
34.
Smith-McKeeverC. (2004). Child behavioral outcomes in African American adoptive families. Adoption Quarterly, 7(4), 29–56.
35.
Smith-McKeeverC. (2005). Factors influencing African American adoptive parents’ attitudes toward open adoption. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 14(3/4), 63–79.
36.
Smith-McKeeverC. (2006). Adoption satisfaction among African-American families adopting African-American children. Children and Youth Services Review, 28(7), 825–840.
37.
Smith-McKeeverT. C., & McRoyR. (2005). The role of private adoption agencies in facilitating African American adoptions. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 86(4), 533–540.
38.
TriseliotisJ. (2002). Long-term foster care or adoption? The evidence examined. Child and Family Social Work, 7(1), 23–33.
39.
TyebjeeT. (2003). Attitude, interest, and motivation for adoption and foster care. Child Welfare, 82(6), 685–706.
ValentineD., ConwayP., & RandolphJ. (1988). Placement disruptions: Perspectives of adoptive parents. In ValentineD. (Ed.), Infertility and adoption: A guide for social work practice (pp. 133–153). New York: Haworth Press.
42.
WindL. H., BrooksD., & BarthR. P. (2007). Influences of risk history and adoption preparation on post-adoption services in U.S. adoptions. Family Relations, 56(4), 378–389.
