Ethical Strategies for Working with the Extended Family of Adoption

June 10, 2020

Stephanie Sterling, LCSW & Paula Davis, LCSW-BACS [email protected] [email protected] Ethical Strategies for Working With the Extended Family of Adoption

June 10, 2020

The webinar is being recorded.

The phone lines and computer speakers are being muted.

You may submit questions throughout the presentation. Q & A will take place at the end.

All questions not addressed at the end will receive an email response.

NOTE: This webinar offers 1.0 Continuing Education Credit. Course completion requirements - To earn CE credit, participants must log in at the scheduled time, attend the webinar and complete an online course evaluation and CEC post-test. Certificates of credit will be emailed within 10 business days of each course completion. Suitcase Exercise Myths of Adoption

 Oh, what happy work!

 What kind of person could give their child away?

 What a lucky child!

 An adopted person’s desire to search is a reflection of a negative relationship with their adoptive family.

 Birth Mothers were promised confidentiality.

 It takes a lot of money to adopt. Definition

Adoption is a lifelong, intergenerational process that unites the constellation of birth families, adopted persons, and adoptive families forever. Guideposts for Adoption

Practice & Policy Good Adoption 1. Best Interests of the Child Practice 2. Child should be included in the process of openness 3. Educate Birth/Adoptive Parents about the benefits of openness 4. Importance of agency openness rather than secrecy 5. Inclusion /Engagement of Birthfathers 6. Equalized services for Birth/Adoptive parents 7. Allow women to make decision free from pressure or coercion 8. Post-Adoption contact agreements honored 9. Legal counsel should not be shared 10. Built on foundation of truth and disclosure (past, present, future)

Adapted from: DAI, "Safeguarding the Rights and Well-being of Birthparents in the Adoption Process”. 11/2006 Ethical Considerations in Adoption Practice

1. Lifecycle Phase of Adoption • Pre-placement, placement, post-adoption

2. Participant’s Perspective • Agency, Adoptive Parent, Birth Parent, Child, Other Parties Involved

3. Type of Adoption • Infant, Older Child, Domestic, International, Transracial, Special Needs, Public or Private

Ethical Issues in Open Adoption: Implications for Practice Reamer, F.G. & Siegel, D.H. (2005) Implications for Ethical Practice

1. Protection of the Most Vulnerable

2. Fundamental Respect & Trustworthiness

3. Honesty & Truthfulness

4. Autonomy

Ethical Issues in Open Adoption: Implications for Practice Reamer, F.G. & Siegel, D.H. (2005) Ethical Decision Making Model

E Examine relevant personal, societal, agency, client, professional values. T Think about what standard of the Code applies to the situation, as well as the relevant laws and case decisions. H Hypothesize about possible consequences of different decisions. I Identify who benefits/ harmed in view of social work’s commitment to the most vulnerable. C Consult

From Congress, E. P. (1999). Social work values and ethics: Identifying and resolving professional dilemmas (p. 31-32). Chicago: Nelson-Hall. Case Discussion

The Stauffer Family Suitcase Exercise