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The reservation of children from adoption : a survey of the determining factors for older children (aged 6-10 years) in the care of the Children's Aid Society, Vancouver, 1949

University of British Columbia

Of the1117 children in care of the Children's Aid Society at the end of the year 1949, there were 200 between the ages of 6 and 10 years inclusive for whom adoption had not been completed. Of these 200 children, 177 were wards of the Society. Thirty-eight of these wards were on adoption probation, leaving a balance of 139 for whom there was no practical indication of adoption. The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons for non-adoption in this residual group and to attempt an analytical classification. The overall statistical material for the study was obtained as part of a group project, a group of students having cooperated in recording indication data on a card-index schedule for all children aged 6 to 10 in care during the year. The files of non-adoption cases were then read, and a classification was worked out and explemified from this material. Supplementary information was obtained from interviews with staff members of the Children's Aid Society, and the Child Guidance Clinic. The categories of non-adoption utilized are the following: "Adoptability’ Diagnoses, Placement Difficulties, Family Ties and Behavior Problems. "Adoptability" Diagnoses, and Family Ties, are more basic and fundamental as reservations preventing adoption, whereas Placement Difficulties and Behavior Problems are indicative of a more basic reservation and are, therefore, more of a somewhat circumstantial nature. The order of the groups was one of practical convenience in a narrowing of the focus of inquiry from reservations outside the Society to those reservations within the child himself. In order of importance as a reservation - "Adoptability" Diagnoses came first, Behavior Problems second, Placement Difficulties third, and Family ties, fourth. Results from the study show that there is not a good programme for adoption of older children, inspite of the fact that there are a good number of older children available for adoption. Social Workers would like to see older children become adopted but realize that it will take a definite planned programme, with a good deal of publicity that there are older children available for adoption, and extensive home-finding, before any real achievements can be possible. The total problem to be faced in this 139 group, is the focus upon an adoption policy and programme that will first clearly free the older child for adoption, and secondly, find him a suitable adoption home. Specific problems of the older child are the roots of the reservations. The older child is not only confronted with the basic factors determining his "adoptability" rating, but he is generally not easily freed from family ties, nor is he naturally as acceptable for adoption. It will be no easy task to take the reins, set the goals, and plan the course, but real evidence has been given that there is enthusiasm, courage, and interest within the Society to meet the needs of older children, and to plan for their futures, through adoption.

Text

2012-03-01

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/41061

Social Work

University of British Columbia

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