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This dissertation examines a unique class of immigrants: foreign orphans adopted by American families. Those children accounted for 18,000 adoptions in 1984 and 1985, or 20 percent of non-relative adoptions in the United States. This rapidly increasing class of immigrants is subject to Federal regulation of immigration and to State regulation of adoption. Visa petitions for foreign orphans, filed by adopting American citizens, are the only immigration petitions for permanent residence that are subject to a State veto. Regulation of intercountry adoption in the United States exposes adopting citizen parents to significant variations in requirements, costs, time, etc., and even in the ultimate issue of Federal approval of their immigration petition - all based on the State in which they reside. This dissertation will make a case for changing the U.S. Code to eliminate the interjurisdictional confusion in which 50 systems of orphan immigration take the place of a unitary Federal system of immigration. The dissertation uses Supreme Court opinions with a more traditional policy analysis to show that the current system conflicts with fundamental constitutional values of individual rights and federalism. Conversely, the advocated change is shown to be on solid constitutional ground. The dissertation does not argue that the current system is "unconstitutional," but that the system fosters inequity and interjurisdictional confusion which Congress can and should correct. The dissertation examines the immigration and adoption elements involved, provides new data on American and intercountry adoption, and reviews American and foreign procedures. This establishes that intercountry adoption is a major alternative in American family building, that the system is safe, the children are healthy and that the system is closely regulated by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, the State Department, and, in foreign countries, by national ministries, juvenile courts and other institutions. Problems often associated with intercountry adoption are shown to be based on misinformation and a lack of familiarity with the extent of Federal and foreign regulation. Conversely, the State role is shown to be duplicative and based on less than compelling constitutional grounds. The dissertation challenges the notion that State jurisdiction over family relations justifies a State role in intercountry adoption and shows that some State policies on foreign adoption are based on unrealistic assumptions about States' administrative and technical capacities. Similarly, the dissertation shows that mandating a role for American adoption agencies in intercountry adoption (as some States now require) is inappropriate, and that a pre-emptive State role does not add constructively to the regulatory system. The State role adds to delays and costs incurred by citizens, with no additional public benefit. / Ph. D.

Family functioning has been an important part of adolescent self-image formation, according to many family therapy theorists. The aspects of family functioning that are the most positive in influencing self-image formation have not been specifically diagnosed, particularly as they apply to adoptive and foster families. The present research tied together family adaptability, cohesion, and communication from the Circumplex Model with self-image and analyzed the effect these aspects of family functioning had on a subjective measure of self-image as reported by the adolescent. The sense of family satisfaction that the adolescent had was also measured, and it was compared with the self-image of the adolescent as was the number of previous foster care placements for those adolescents who had been in foster care prior to adoption or who were presently in foster care. Fifty-five adolescents (12 adoptees, 18 in foster care, and 25 living with their biological families) were administered the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire, FACES III and the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale. Hypotheses included: (a) adolescents across the three family types who were rated as extreme or mid-range on the cohesion and adaptability aspects of the Circumplex Model would have lower self-image scores than those who were rated as balanced; (b) adolescents who achieved a higher family satisfaction score (distance from the center of the Circumplex Model) would have a higher self-image score than those with a lower family satisfaction score; (c) adolescents who report higher levels of mother and father communication will have higher self-image scores than those with lower levels of communication; (d) adolescents with two or fewer foster care placements would have higher self-image scores than those with three or more placements. Statistical significance was found when the mother communication was divided into high and low categories and compared in an analysis of variance across the three family groupings. Perceived family cohesion was also found to be statistically significant in an analysis of variance across the three family groupings, and the interaction of family type by family cohesion (balanced, mid-range, or extrane) across the groupings was also statistically significant. The other variables related to family functioning did not prove to be statistically significant. / Ph. D.

"The purpose of the study is to describe and compare the presenting and the underlying problems of eighteen adopted children and eighteen natural children seen in the Jefferson County Mental Health Clinic from January, 1955, through November, 1960. An attempt will be made to determine whether there are significant differences observed between the problems of the two groups, either the problems which precipitated the first Clinic contact, or those which Clinic evaluation revealed, or both. Also observed will be differences, if any, in the problems of the parents of the two groups"--Introduction. / Typescript. / "June, 1961." / "Submitted to the Graduate School of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work." / Advisor: Merle M. Foeckler, Professor Directing Study. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-79).

Educational Studies / M.Ed.

Text in Afrikaans / Gesinne met aangenome kinders bevind hulself in 'n eiesoortige gesinsituasie. Die situasie stel verskeie eise aan die ouers asook aan die kinders in die gesin. Bo en behalwe die universele gesinsuitdagings, moet bulle ook die uitdagings uniek aan die aannemingsituasie bemeester. Gesinne met aangenome kinders bevind hulself soms in moeilike situasies en benodig dan ondersteuning. Daarom is daar in hierdie studie besluit om ondersoek in te stel na die effek van gesinsterapie in gesinne met aangenome kinders. Die doel was om vas te stel in watter mate gesinne met aangenome kinders gehelp kan word om probleme te oorkom met gesinsterapie as terapeutiese intervensie. Die navorsing is gedoen aan die hand van 'n kwalitatiewe ontwerp waar data hoofsaaklik ingesamel is deur vraelyste, observasie en onderhoudvoering. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat gesinsterapie effektief gebruik kan word om hulp te verleen aan die gesin met aangenome kinders. Daar word as 'n span aan die probleme gewerk aangesien gesamentlike doelwitstelling-plaasvind en dit dien ook as 'n belangrike saambindende faktor van die gesinslede. AI die gesinslede se probleme kon gelyktydig aangespreek word in plaas van op 'n individuele basis. / Families with adopted children find themselves in a situation with unique demands made on them as a family as well as on an individual level as a parent or a child. They have to master the universal family challenges as well as the challenges of the family with adopted children. These families often find themselves in complex situations, which are difficult to handle and thus need the necessary support. The reason for this study was therefore to investigate the effect of family therapy in families with adopted children. The aim was to find out how effective a family with adopted children could be helped to solve the problems experienced with family therapy as therapeutic intervention. A qualitative analysis was conducted and data was gathered primarily through questionnaires, observation and interviewing. The results of the research led to the conclusion that family therapy was indeed an effective therapeutic intervention as far as families with adopted children were concerned. It provided the family to work together as a team and created unity. All the family members' problems could also be addressed at once instead of individually. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

Educational Studies / M.Ed.

Text in Afrikaans / Gesinne met aangenome kinders bevind hulself in 'n eiesoortige gesinsituasie. Die situasie stel verskeie eise aan die ouers asook aan die kinders in die gesin. Bo en behalwe die universele gesinsuitdagings, moet bulle ook die uitdagings uniek aan die aannemingsituasie bemeester. Gesinne met aangenome kinders bevind hulself soms in moeilike situasies en benodig dan ondersteuning. Daarom is daar in hierdie studie besluit om ondersoek in te stel na die effek van gesinsterapie in gesinne met aangenome kinders. Die doel was om vas te stel in watter mate gesinne met aangenome kinders gehelp kan word om probleme te oorkom met gesinsterapie as terapeutiese intervensie. Die navorsing is gedoen aan die hand van 'n kwalitatiewe ontwerp waar data hoofsaaklik ingesamel is deur vraelyste, observasie en onderhoudvoering. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat gesinsterapie effektief gebruik kan word om hulp te verleen aan die gesin met aangenome kinders. Daar word as 'n span aan die probleme gewerk aangesien gesamentlike doelwitstelling-plaasvind en dit dien ook as 'n belangrike saambindende faktor van die gesinslede. AI die gesinslede se probleme kon gelyktydig aangespreek word in plaas van op 'n individuele basis. / Families with adopted children find themselves in a situation with unique demands made on them as a family as well as on an individual level as a parent or a child. They have to master the universal family challenges as well as the challenges of the family with adopted children. These families often find themselves in complex situations, which are difficult to handle and thus need the necessary support. The reason for this study was therefore to investigate the effect of family therapy in families with adopted children. The aim was to find out how effective a family with adopted children could be helped to solve the problems experienced with family therapy as therapeutic intervention. A qualitative analysis was conducted and data was gathered primarily through questionnaires, observation and interviewing. The results of the research led to the conclusion that family therapy was indeed an effective therapeutic intervention as far as families with adopted children were concerned. It provided the family to work together as a team and created unity. All the family members' problems could also be addressed at once instead of individually. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

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