AdoPt Project - Adoptive families’ strengths, difficulties and service needs: A Portuguese follow-up study

Abstract

Introduction:Together with many positive experiences, adoption brings stress and difficulties. In Portugal, about 1/15 preadoption placements is disrupted. In Europe, 1 in 25 adoptions fail. International data show that around 1/4 adoptions undergo major difficulties that threaten stability/permanence. Portuguese research on these matters is currently very limited. Aims: The goal of this poster is to present a recently funded project (AdoPt) aiming at identifying risk/protective factors of postadoption instability/permanence in variables related to adoptees, adopters, parent-child relationships, formal and informal sources of support, and developing, val- idating and sustaining an online survey system to monitor postadoption pathways and needs. Method:Using a cross-sequential design, 3 cohorts of 90 children each, adopted in 2013, 2016 and 2019, will be followed for 3 years with data collection times 12 months apart. Each cohort will include children adopted at ages 0-2, 3-5 and 6-10, ensuring a final age-span of adoptees between 2 and 20 years. Data will be collected online, using adopters and professionals as informants. At the end, data from a representative sub-sample of 90 families will be collected at in-home visits to cross-validate online data (adoptees will also participate). A user-friendly on- line monitoring and follow-up system will be set up. Families will be provided with feedback and educational resources. Annual sessions with adoption professionals will provide the opportunity to share ongoing findings and design new services. Expected Results:With ground-breaking innovations, AdoPt will respond to the need of sound knowledge/better practices for the development of urgently needed postadoption services in Portugal.