Exploratory Evaluation of the Role of Social Workers During Adoption Disruption

This research study is a qualitative project exploring social workers’ experiences in working with adoption disruption. The literature covers adoption history, adoption statistics, disruption information, disruption risk factors, services and mental health aspects. Seven participants, including adoption social workers and a post adoption parent support specialist were interviewed from various adoption agencies. Findings include discovering there is a lack of a concrete definition for adoption disruption, the importance of expectations from adoptive parents, identifying struggles faced by adoption social workers, initial responses to a family wanting to disrupt, current services, barriers to services, and ways to reduce adoption disruption.