Running head: CASE PRESENTATION 1

Katie Martin

Case Presentation

SOWK 492

Colorado State University

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1. Referral source and client descriptive information:

The Miller family came to Nightlight Christian Adoptions because they wanted to grow

their family through adoption. They do not have any biological children. They found out about

Nightlight through a church they are attending when Nightlight was at their church for an event

called orphan Sunday. The Miller couples ethnicity is White/Caucasian, they are a male and

female couple and they are in their early thirties.

2. Practice situation:

The Miller familys home studies are completed and they have been approved by Nightlight

to move forward with their process. The couple are open to children of any race. They will be

happy with a child either male or female ages ranging from zero to two-years-old. Since the couple

are open to any ethnicity and they are also open to most health conditions, they were matched with

a child very quickly. They were matched within three weeks. Most waiting times for couples are

between six months to a year. They are very excited to be matched with a child. They have the full

support from both sides of their families. They also have support from the church they attend and

from their co-workers.

3. Diversity issues:

Since the Miller family are both White/Caucasian, there could be a chance when a pregnant

mother of a different race is viewing their profile book, the Miller family could not be picked to

parent the child because of their race. On the other hand, they could be picked to parent the child

because they are both white/Caucasians. However, if the Miller family are matched with a child

of a different race than them, later on the child might face some situations that might make him/her

more vulnerable to oppression or social injustices.

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4. Reading on Client situation:

A) Contact between adoptive and birth families: perspective from the Minnesota/Texas

Adoption Research Project.

The research of the article was longitudinal. The research was on various contact

arrangements for the triad; which includes birth mother, adoptive parents, and the adoptee

through domestic infant adoptions. The researchers found that there was more satisfaction in

life with the contact arrangements - regardless of the contact arrangements than the ones did

not have any contact arrangements. That satisfaction of contact helped researchers predict the

adjustment among adopted adolescents and emerging adults. The birth mothers had less

unresolved grief 12-20 years after placements. This shows the benefits of having an open

adoption between the birth parents/family and adoptive parents/family. It will help alleviate

problems for the triad in the future. Since the Miller family is already wanting a semi-open

adoption with their childs birth family, they will have less challenges when their child is

growing up. At the same time, the contact arrangements will help the child to form their own

self-identity.

B) Regulation of private domestic adoption expenses

This article helped to explain some of the expenses the adoptive parents might have to pay

for throughout the domestic adoption process in Colorado. This information is relevant to the

Miller family because they are going through the domestic adoption through a private agency. It

will help the Miller family to better understand some of the expenses that they might have to pay

during their adoption process and why they are paying the expenses.

C) Adoption: Biological and Social Processes Linked to Adaptation

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This article is relevant to the Millers case because the article explained some of the

development out comes of an adopted child. Just like with an un-adopted child, there are many

teratogens that could affect the development out comes of an adopted child. One of the main

factor was the amount of stress the pregnant mother have during the pregnancy can have an

effect on the baby while they are still in their mothers womb. The miller couple needs to be

aware that there are some factors they cannot control, such as the birth mothers environment,

and some factors even the birth mother cannot control.

Another part of the article that is relevant to the Millers family being that they are open to

adopting a child of a different race than them. The article explained the importance for the

adoptive parents to acknowledge on their childs race and culture and really support the

development of racial pride and at the same time help the child to handle any bias that might

come their way as they grow older.

5. Assessment and planned change process:

At this point, the Miller family are matched with a child. A birth mother has chosen them to

parent her child. A SAFE assessment has been conducted for the Miller couple to make sure they

are a good fit to foster/adopt a child. Cognitive/psychological intervention methods are used

when taking psychological evaluations of the clients that are thinking of either fostering,

fostering to adopt, or adopting children. A Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) was

used to successfully provide home studies to families that qualifies to foster or foster to adopt.

These assessments are very crucial because a vulnerable child will be placed with the Millers

home and they need to have a safe environment and a stable home for the child. The agency

needed to make sure the Miller couple are mentally and physically prepared to parent this child

and that they can provide that love and support for this vulnerable child.
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6. Interventions:

The interventions that were used to help the Millers to prepare for the adoption of their future

child included having them make a profile book so the birth mother can look through and pick

the couple to parent her child. They also took various trainings relating to adoption, such as the

CORE training, which is a training all adoptive parents are required to take before moving on to

the next step of their adoption process. The trainings include various ways to parent their

potential child, learning the different types of parenting styles, learning how to parent a child that

comes from trauma and how to parent a child of a different race than the adoptive parents. They

had to read a book called The Connected Child: Bring hope and healing to your adoptive family

which is required of all parents that are looking to adopt. The Miller family has also filled out the

child desire form to help Nightlight to find a child that the Miller family can bring in to their

family.

7. Research design:

The goal for the Miller family would be to match them with a child that is within their child

desired form. Before they are matched with a child, they will need to complete all the required

paperwork for the agency and for the states involved in the adoption process. The goals would be

met when the Miller couple is matched with a child and that their adoption will be finalized. The

objectives would be achieved when the Miller couple are matched with their child because they

have to complete the paperwork in order to be placed with a child. The instrument that is used to

indicated goal attainment is the level of achievements that is completed with each task ranging

from no progress to completely achieved. The indicator of success would be used by a check

mark that are shown below on the table. At this point, the Millers have all check marks
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indicating they have completely achieved their tasks. Another indicator of success would be the

miller couple are able to move on to the next stage of their case.

8. Problems or dilemmas:

Currently, the problems and dilemmas we are facing with the Miller family is funding for their

domestic adoption. The family has to pay a match fee, which takes place when they are matched

with a child. Normally, it takes a while for a family to be matched with a child, so the family have

time to raise the money. However, the Miller family was matched with a child really quickly. They

were matched quicker than usual because they are very open to various needs of their potential

child. To help with the dilemma, Nightlight needs to come up with a payment plan for the Miller

couple. They are very motivated to raise money with the help of their family, friends, co-workers,

and church community.

9. Specific questions that you would like the class to address you with the case:

If the Miller couple are matched a child of a different race/ethnicity, how can the Miller

couple integrate the race/ethnicity into parenting their child?

What are some creative ways to fundraise?

Are there any government supports the Miller family should consider on applying for to

help fundraise for their adoption?

Are there other support systems I am missing?

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Research Design

Goals: Match the Miller family with a baby.

Objective: Complete all agency and state required paper work before matched with a child.

Task 1: Complete Task 2: Turn in Task 3: Turn in Task 4:

Achievements CORE training child desired references Complete
form background
check/Finger
prints
No Progress N/A N/A N/A N/A

Minimally N/A N/A N/A N/A

Achieved

Partially Achieved N/A N/A N/A N/A

Substantially N/A N/A N/A N/A

Achieved

Completely

Achieved
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Ecomap

Maternal
Side

Paternal
Miller Family Side
Early 30s
White/Caucasian

Friends

Church
Support

Key
Strong support
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References

Grotevant, H. D., McRoy, R. G., Wrobel, G. M. and Ayers-Lopez, S. (2013), Contact Between

Adoptive and Birth Families: Perspectives From the Minnesota/Texas Adoption Research

Project. Child Development Perspectives, 7: 193198. doi: 10.1111/cdep.12039

Grotevant, H., & McDermott, J. (2014). Adoption: Biological and Social Processes Linked to

Adaptation. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 235-265.

Sheafor, B.W., & Horejsi, C.R. (2014). Techniques and Guidelines for Social Work Practice

(10th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

United States. Administration for Children, Youth, Families, & Child Welfare Information

Gateway. (2010). Regulation of private domestic adoption expenses. Washington, DC:

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children's Bureau, Child Welfare

Information Gateway.
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