The literature consistently reports a lack of support for birth mothers following their child being taken into care or adopted (Logan, 1996; Schofield, 2009; Schofield, 2010). This is despite consistent evidence of the long-term consequences that the removal of children has upon their mental health (Condon, 1986; Wells, 1993; Logan, 1996). O’Leary-Wiley & Baden (2005) write, ‘Birth parents are the least studied, understood, and served members of the adoption triad.’ The aim of the study was to explore: the experience of separation, sense of identity following separation, experience of contact and experience of support through the process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven mothers who were recruited from birth mother support groups. The transcripts of the interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four main themes emerged across the participants’ accounts: ‘No one in my corner’, ‘Disconnecting from emotion’, ‘Renegotiating identity’ and ‘The children are gone, but still here’. The findings contribute to our understanding of the experiences of birth mothers and are discussed within a range of psychological theories. Implications for clinical psychology are considered.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-190). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2009. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-144).

This study was concerned with exploring the meaning birth relatives gave their experiences of counselling following the removal of their children from their care. An exploratory research question was formulated and addressed using a qualitative approach. The involvement of a service user as expert supervisor added an important element and certain validity to the design, analysis and findings. Interviews took place with five birth mothers who had received counselling from one birth relatives counselling service. Three master themes were constructed from the data: From feeling alone, judged and let down to feeling part of a special relationship; "The healing process"; and "My children are my world".

This study explores the childhood experiences and transitions to adulthood of 39 Romanian care leavers and adoptees, born around 1989 - 1990. In the past, Romania's children in care became known to the world as 'the Romanian orphans' and some of them have been subjects to neurodevelopmental research studies focusing on the setbacks posed by institutionalisation in early life. This research project takes a different angle by: • Using life history approach and therefore capturing the participants' in-depth accounts of how they recall their childhoods and the challenges they encountered in their transition to independent life; • Exploring four different types of placements and how they affect transition to independent life, from a user's perspective. The fact that Romania undertook reform of the child protection system within the timespan of this generation of children provided a research opportunity to collect the users' views on different types of placement that belonged to the unreformed system of the 1990s (large residential care and intercountry adoption) and the new types of placement (small group homes and foster care). For comparison purposes, I also included domestic adoption, a type of placement that was less controversial than the others at the time reforms were being introduced. Thus, the types of placement that are analysed through the research participants' accounts are: • Residential care (institutions and small group homes); • Foster Care; • Domestic Adoption; • Intercountry adoption. The study addressed two research questions: 1. How do Romanian born young people who grew up in care understand and narrate their experiences in different types of placement? 2. What narratives of agency are constructed by Romanian-born adults who grew up in different types of placement when they describe their transition to adulthood? By taking an interpretive stance, this study brings in the academic arena the voices of care leavers and adoptees. By using narrative analysis and focussing on the concept of dignity by employing identity theories, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Capabilities Approach, the study makes an important contribution to knowledge, with implications for further research, policy and practice. While interventions in child protection are influenced in each country by cultural, political and socio-legal factors, understanding the basic needs of children who are not raised by their birth families is important across different child protection systems. Therefore, the relevance of the research findings is not limited to Romania.

Specifics of alternative family care institutions The Keywords: Substitute Family Care Adoption Foster care Constitutional Education Children's Home Chances for the Future Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to describe the specifics of individual foster care institutions. The thesis consists of two parts. The theoretical part illustrates the history adoption and foster care. Moreover various forms of alternative family care will be described adoption, foster care, guardianship, institutional care or facilities for children requiring immediate assistance. The practical part deals with the children's homes. It describes Children's Home in Horšovský Týn. It also addresses the potential consequences of constitutional education and the effect of project Chances for Future on careers of children from children's homes. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

The thesis is devoted to the issue of interracial adoption, when Ugandan child lives in the Czech adoptive family. The aim is to focus on the ethical aspect of interracial adoptions. Attempts to find out whether this type of adoption is really in the best interests of the child. The first part of the thesis provides general background information about Uganda as a country of origin of children. Describes historical development and socio-economic situation of the country, the issue of HIV/AIDS and information about orphan and abandoned children. The second part describes the process of international adoption, both generally and on the part of both participating countries, namely Uganda and the Czech Republic. The third part deals with the ethical side of the adoption. Aim is to find out how the circumstances of the interracial adoption can affect the adoptive family and the future development of the child, how they cope with the racism and discrimination and questions about childs identity. This part is based on surveys, studies and interviews with adoptive parents and their adopted children.

This Diploma Thesis with a title "Future parents' way to foster care with a focus on adoption" has got two main parts. The theoretical part presents a basic approach on the issue of substitute care - family one as well as institutional one. It emphasizes its risks and also its advantages. One of the chapters describes the complete process of adoption, all steps, which applicants must get through and it emphasizes pitfalls of each step. The practical part is based on the theoretical part and it is in a form of an experimental probe. In the practical part there are presented the results of data analysis, which goes from semi-structured interviews with adoption applicants. The Thesis presents a complete overview of the issue of adoption and it also introduces not much discussed topic of direct adoption in the Czech Republic. Key words: Substitute Care, Foster Care, Forms of Foster Care, Institutional Care, Adoption, Direct Adoption, Parents' Approval to Adoption, "Legally Free" Child, Adoption Applicant