( See also "Indicators of Adoption Disruption".)

Successful Adoption Indicators

There are several factors that can predict the possibility of a successful adoption as well as the possibility of an adoption disruption. Having a good understanding of your family and the dynamics that it presents can help circumvent any possible problems before and after a child comes home.

Adoptive families that are working towards or currently possess the following characteristics are more likely to have a successful adoption experience.

• Families with emotional support from their family and friends
• Families who did not care what the “Jones” think
• Membership in an adoption support group (families share common problems which normalizes their own family transitional problems)
• Family engages in family leisure activities as a whole throughout the week
• Involvement in a religious practice
• Lower to middle income, high school or two or less years of college education
• Children who have been able to maintain past relationships in their new placements
• Adoptive Families who remain active within their adoption agency
• Children who have been able to have closure with past caregivers
• Families with some child care or parenting experiences
• Families who continue to education themselves about adoption issues as well as any special needs of the child
• Families with a strong marriage or partnership
• Patience
• Families that are more empathic towards a child and the past issues that they have had to face rather than blaming them for the family problems
• Adoptive families who put the needs of the child before their own-ALWAYS
• Easy assess to post-adoption services
• Resolved infertility issues
• Women who do not need to feel “appreciated” everyday and do not take child rejection or behavioral concerns personally

(See also "Indicators of Adoption Disruption".)