Supporting and Strengthening Foster Adoptive Families: Utah's Story of Post-Adoption Service Development, Delivery, and Ongoing Evaluation

Abstract

Foster care adoption outcomes and related child and family risk factors, challenges, and needs have been well documented by previous research. Practical and replicable grass roots approaches to address these challenges are warranted. This macro-level case study describes Utah's public–private university collaborative process for addressing the challenges and needs of foster adoptive families utilizing a method for developing and delivering post-adoption services as well as a mixed methods model for giving voice to adoptive families in an ongoing effort to evaluate awareness of, access to, and use of post-adoption services. Specific practical implications and recommendations are included.

Keywords::

• foster care adoption
• post-adoption services
• collaboration
• stakeholder driven

Funding

This research was supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Children's Bureau and funding from the Utah Department of Human Services.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan Cutler Egbert

Susan Cutler Egbert, LCSW, PhD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology Department at Utah State University in Logan, UT.