Reproduction de : Thèse d'exercice : Médecine vétérinaire : Toulouse 3 : 2009. / Titre provenant de l'écran titre. Bibliogr. p. 99-106.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-117). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

This is a story of the failing Texas foster care system, told by the people who work in it and more importantly, the children affected by it. Foster parents Jim and Kay Mayo and their foster children Brian and Heaven shared their troubled pasts and hopes for the future so more people could understand the problems facing them. There is no easy answer but hopefully some planned changes in policy will shape a better system. To delve deeper into the Mayo’s family dynamic and hear Brian tell his story in person, I invite you to see my video about Brian, Misael and Heaven here: “Far From Home” http://vimeo.com/41420290. The password is: foster care. / text

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Journalism and Media Studies Centre / Master / Master of Journalism

Det varierar stort i vilka erfarenheter barnen har med sig när de blir adopterade. Majoriteten av de barn som blir internationellt adopterade har i förväg kända särskilda behov på grund av exempelvis sjukdomar, funktionshinder eller svår social bakgrund. En del kan ha tillbringat den första tiden i livet med sin biologiska familj, medan andra kan ha blivit lämnade vid födseln. Dessa separationer kan sätta djupa spår hos adoptivbarnet och bilda problematik under uppväxten (Myndigheten för internationella adoptionsfrågor, 2013). Studien syftar till att undersöka om adoptivpersoner upplever problem relaterat till sina liv som adopterade, och i sådana fall undersöka hur dessa problem kan se ut. Empirin utgörs av kvalitativa intervjuer med tre adoptivpersoner som sedan har transkriberats och analyserats utifrån tematisk innehållsanalys. De framtagna temana har analyserats med teorierna symbolisk interaktionism och stigma. Dessa teman är: bakgrund, familj, identitet, tankar och funderingar samt biologiska rötter. Intervjupersonera är adopterade ifrån Sydkorea och Indien, samtliga uppvuxna i Sverige. Resultaten tyder på att adoptivbarnets tidiga socialisationsperiod med adoptivföräldrarna och socialiseringen in i samhället är betydande för dess identitetsutveckling och självkänsla. Således är bland annat uppväxten, familjen och samhället viktiga faktorer som påverkar och formar adoptivpersonen. Många adoptivpersoner kämpar med inre och yttre processer som pågår samtidigt.

There is a persistent problem of poor agricultural production which leads to household food insecurity problems for farmers in Ghana. Studies show that the adoption of improved agricultural practices and technology may help stabilize production, and lessen food insecurity problems. There, however, is a missing link between food insecurity and adoption of soil improving practices in the literature. The missing link is addressed by investigation whether the food insecurity group differs in adopting the use of soil improving practices. Conversely, the adoption of soil improving practices may influence a household’s food security position. With this in mind, the objectives of study are to determine the 1) likelihood of adopting the soil improving practices of Ghanaian households; and 2) determine if and how food insecure agricultural households differ from food secure agricultural households in terms of agricultural practices, household characteristics, and technologies adopted. A conditional logit model, based on random utility theory, is estimated to determine which factors affect adoption of soil improving practices; whereas, a multinomial logit model is used to examine factors influencing a household’s food insecurity position. Positions considered are chronic, seasonal, vulnerable food insecure groups and a food secure group. The positions are differentiated by the length of time a household went without sufficient food. Characteristics of operating under seasonal lease, being a food secure household, and households farming medium quality soil increase the probability of adopting soil improving practices. Application of chemical fertilizers, commercial seeds, and pesticides, along with operating under a seasonal lease tenure and adoption of improved soil practices are likely to improve the household food security position. Households with medium quality soil have a larger probability of not being a chronic food insecure household. Given the high priority that the government of Ghana has placed on food security, policies that encourage households to adopt soil improving practices may be beneficial to food insecure households. Household characteristics such as income, age, education level, and household size are not significant in determining the likelihood of a household being in one of food insecurity group. The insignificance may be attributed to the homogeneity of the surveyed household characteristics.

In recent literature, it has been stated that Native children adopted into non-Native homes do not fare well emotionally or culturally. But to place ourselves in another era; the decades of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, where the child welfare systems were overrun with Native children needing to be placed in long term homes, begs us to examine the systemic and political structures at play. Also, to examine the homes that these children were placed in and embrace a different perspective: the stories of the non-Native adoptive parents. This research study delves into the adoption experiences of eight non-Native adoptive parents and empirically examines their stories, resulting in many significant similarities and common themes with the main one being, the situation that these families found themselves in at times was not ideal but they transcended adversity to the best degree they could. Native children are no longer adopted out to non-Native families at the high rate that they once were. The political atmosphere of today differs significantly from the era that became known as the "Sixties Scoop". However, this study may contribute to the body of literature surrounding Native/non-Native adoption and could impact long term fostering policy and practice if the data were to be extrapolated into today's context.

In recent literature, it has been stated that Native children adopted into non-Native homes do not fare well emotionally or culturally. But to place ourselves in another era; the decades of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, where the child welfare systems were overrun with Native children needing to be placed in long term homes, begs us to examine the systemic and political structures at play. Also, to examine the homes that these children were placed in and embrace a different perspective: the stories of the non-Native adoptive parents. This research study delves into the adoption experiences of eight non-Native adoptive parents and empirically examines their stories, resulting in many significant similarities and common themes with the main one being, the situation that these families found themselves in at times was not ideal but they transcended adversity to the best degree they could. Native children are no longer adopted out to non-Native families at the high rate that they once were. The political atmosphere of today differs significantly from the era that became known as the "Sixties Scoop". However, this study may contribute to the body of literature surrounding Native/non-Native adoption and could impact long term fostering policy and practice if the data were to be extrapolated into today's context.

Prospective adoptive parents in British Columbia are required by provincial law to attend workshops on parenting. Key advice given to parents wishing to adopt transnationally, transracially, or both, suggests promoting a positive identity in their children; an identity founded on feelings of belonging within their own family, as well as an acknowledgment of their background. This advice is largely influenced by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, as well as Canada's national policy of multiculturalism. Bearing these external laws, policies, and ideologies in mind, this thesis explores how white Canadian parents who adopt black children from the United States respond to this advice. Within this thesis, I contextualize the adoption of black children from the United States by white Canadian parents in a local, national, international and global historical perspective. / Graduate