Parent, Child, and Adoption Characteristics Associated with Post-Adoption Support Needs

Abstract The purpose of this study is to (a) identify whether there are meaningful subgroups of families with distinct post-adoption needs and (b) determine which parent, youth, and adoption characteristics are associated with these collections of needs. Using data from the Modern Adoptive Families study, authors conducted a three-step latent class analysis with a sample of 1,414 families who rated the importance of 16 areas of parent education and support, based on their current level of need. A five-class solution best fit the data. Descriptively, the classes reflect families with low needs, families with needs related to adoption adjustment, families with adoption-specific needs, families wanting support specific to their youths’ special needs, and families with needs that are both adoption-specific and related to youth special needs. Results from the multinomial logistic regression model found class membership differences based on parent, youth, and adoption characteristics. These classes may help adoption professionals to recognize the types of post-adoption services different families may need and to develop targeted interventions for specific types of families.