1. Disruptions, Dissolutions and Rehoming US Department of State  Bureau of Consular Affairs Bureau of Consular Affairs Presents

2. Scope: 70% of the children were adopted from overseas Members of the Interagency Working Group: Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children, Youth and Families Department of Justice Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Evaluating the Issue

3. Identifying the Risk Factors Adoptive Parents Mother having a college education Young parents (under 30) No previous experience with parenting Both parents not equally involved in parenting Unrealistic expectations ChildAge – over 3 Externalizing behaviors (including sexualized behavior) History of unstable placements prior to adoption Strong and enduring attachment to birth family Agency Limited information on child history Inadequate training for prospective adoptive parents Changes in caseworkers during adoption process Insufficient services

4. Feedback on improvements needed: 1)Better post adoption support 2)More training for prospective adoptive parents 3)Improved information about a child’s history or medical condition. Reaching out to the Adoption Community

5. Building an Adoptive family: From the initial application to post adoption. State and Local Governments Child welfare and protection Department of Health and Human Services- federal funding for family preservation USCIS Approve adoptive parents Adoption Service Providers Prepare parents for the challenges ahead

6. Contact Office of Children’s Issues: 888-407-4747 202-501-4444 (from outside United States) travel.state.gov adoption.state.gov