Disrupted Adoptions, Contributing Factors and Intervention Techniques

This paper explores disrupted adoptions, contributing factors and intervention techniques. A general overview of the history of adoption in the United States is explored to help explain some of the common risk factors in adoption disruption. Both psychosocial stages of development and cognitive development are examined to help explain how delayed psychosocial and cognitive development may cause greater challenges for adoptive families. Additionally, this paper explores difficulties with attachment and bonding research, which results in a disproportionate number of adopted children diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder. Varied categories of "special needs" are defined and the most common leading factors to disrupted adoption are identified. Emphasis is placed on contributing adoptive family dynamics that may impact the number of children susceptible to adoption disruption. Intervention strategies to decrease the number of disrupted adoptions are recommended within the research and by adoption professionals interviewed for this project.