through National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
"Are rates of abuse higher in adoptive families?"
The research really does not back up the assertion that abuse rates are high in adoptive families. Below are abstracts of three documents by Richard Barth who has reviewed studies across the US on abuse and reabuse rates. Barth is the Frank A. Daniels Distinguished Professor for Human Services Policy Information at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Richard Barth's chapter entitled "The Value of Special Needs Adoption" in Adoption Policy and Special Needs Children, edited by Rosemary J. Avery (1997), Westport, CT: Auburn House ISBN 0-86569-212-2 provides an excellent literature review of early studies citing many different rates of reabuse by adoptive families. He then cites the Barth and Berry 1988 book on Disruption saying that since disruptions occur in roughly 10% of all older child adoptions and these adoptions have the worst outcomes, generally no more than 1% of adoptive children are likely to be abused. Barth then cites national studies of child abuse and neglect (Russell & Trainor's 1984 study of national trends in child abuse and neglect published by American Humane) that confirm this estimate and indicate that adoptive parents are alleged perpetrators in 1% of all reports (while representing approximately 3% of the general population). This would indicate that adoptive placements are rather safe. This 1% rate includes infant as well as older child placements. He then states that abuse rates are likely to be higher in older child placements but still below those of the general population.
Barth then cites research findings that support that children in foster care appear to experience more abuse than children who are adopted. Ryan and McFadden's 1983 review of abuse rates in 27 states found that allegations were filed against 0.3 to 6.7% of foster homes and substantiated complaints ranged from 0.2 to 2.7% of licensed homes. He estimated that the rates of abuse would be less than half those estimates due to the fact that foster homes typically have more than two children in care. The 1984 Russell & Trainer national study of child abuse and neglect confirms that foster parents are alleged abusers in 0.5% of all child abuse reports, although they represent less than 1% of the general population. Barth cites two state studies and their abuse rates for children in foster care (Arizona 7% (1981 - Bolton, Laner & Gai) and Indiana 1.7% (1992 - Spencer & Knudsen). There is no mention of abuse by peer perpetrators in these citations.
He then cites studies of children in residential and group care settings
· Rindfleisch & Rabb, 1984 - study of 69,000 children (complaint rate of 0.4% per 1000 and substantiated rate of 0.9% among 69,000
· Fanshel, Finch & Grundy, 1989 - study of Casey Family Foster Care - 24% of girls and 8% of boys had experienced attempted sexual abuse (no indication if perpetrators were adults or peers)
· Fitzharris, 1985 - found that because children in residential treatment and group home settings were twice as likely to be difficult to control than children in regular foster care, higher abuse rates are predictable in residential and group home settings.
Barth warns that available data do not allow for a direct comparison of abuse of foster children vs. adoptive children. Overall, though, children in foster care appear to be safer than their peers at home but somewhat less safe than adopted children. He adds that children who are not adopted may have different and more difficult characteristics than children who were adopted.
In the remainder of this chapter, Barth examines stability of permanent placements; measurable developmental outcomes for adoptive and foster children; children's satisfaction for adoptive and long-term foster care; a summary of the personal value of adoption; and the fiscal value of adoption to the child, government savings, and fiscal impact of adoption placements.
Other articles pertinent to this area of research include:
Implications of Research on the Welfare of Children Under Permanency Planning.
Barth, R. P.; Berry, M.
pp. 323-368
Copyright 1994
In: Barth, R. P.; Berrick, J. D. and Gilbert, N. (Editors). Child Welfare Research Review, Vol. I. New York, NY, Columbia Univ. Press
Distributed by:
Columbia Univ. Press
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(800) 944-8648
Sponsored by:
Children's Bureau (DHHS), Washington, DC.
This chapter discusses the implications of research on the welfare of children under permanency planning. Four indicators of the suitability of child welfare services and placements are identified, including the risk that a child will be reabused in a placement, the stability of a permanent placement, the developmental outcomes for a child, and the satisfaction of children and families with the placement. Various types of child welfare service programs are critiqued using these indicators: family preservation service programs, family maintenance services and family reunification, adoption, guardianship, and long-term foster care.
Descriptors:
child welfare research; permanency planning; child welfare services; family reunification; foster care; adoption; guardianship
A Decade Later: Outcomes of Permanency Planning. Barth, R. P.; Berry, M.
Technical Report
32 pp.
Copyright 1990
Family Welfare Research Group
Child Welfare Research Center
1950 Addison St., Suite 184
Berkeley, CA 94704-1182
This paper analyzes the effectiveness of Public Law 96-272 in ensuring a permanent, safe, and family-like environment for children served. Trends in prevention, reunification, adoption, guardianship, and long-term foster care programs are discussed, and their success is measured by rates of reabuse, stability, effects on child development, and satisfaction. Results of numerous research studies are summarized. Risk for reabuse varies by placement, less likely when a child is adopted and more likely when the child is returned home. Adoption is the most stable placement and long-term care is the least stable. Studies have shown that child health and educational and social growth are less favorable for children who are returned home than children who are adopted. The preferences of children and their families for different types of placements have not been studied extensively; however, most families give high ratings to the family preservation and maintenance services they have received.
Descriptors:
permanency planning; outcomes; program evaluation; public policy; research
One last document is a 40 page article by Barth and Berry which updates, expands, and revises a prior article published by the authors as "Outcomes of Child Welfare Services Under Permanency Planning" Social Service Review, 1987 pp 71-90. The article cites a disruption rate of 11% for older child adoptions, and less than 1% involved allegations of abuse by the adoptive parents. This rate is confirmed in national studies of child abuse and neglect indicating that adoptive parents are alleged perpetrators in 1% of all reports, despite their representation of approximately 3% in the population at large.
This material may be reproduced and distributed without permission; however, appropriate citation must be given to the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.