Identity Formation in Children and Young People in Open Adoptions from Out-of-home Care in New South Wales, Australia

ABSTRACT

Semi-structured interviews were used to explore identity development for nine adoptees (aged 9–23 years) who were adopted by their foster carers in New South Wales, Australia. Adoptions were open, with court-ordered face-to-face contact with birth families. Findings suggest that participants had healthy adoptive identities, with coherent and meaningful narratives about their life histories. Adoption provided a sense of security and belonging. Openness provided information to build a self-narrative and encouraged discussion of adoption issues within adoptive families. Adoptive parents were critical in helping children understand their adoption and facilitating direct contact with birth families, thus laying foundations for positive identity development.

KEYWORDS:

• Open adoption
• foster care
• identity formation
• contact
• permanency

Acknowledgments

This study was completed at the University of Wollongong. The authors would like to thank the children, adolescents, and young adults who participated in the interviews. We would also like to thank the agency staff who assisted promptly and openly with our enquiries and requests for information.