Building Effective Post‐Adoption Services: What is the Empirical Foundation?*

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Abstract
While adoptions in general are highly successful, families do experience disappointment and disruption, outcomes that may be reduced by provision of post‐adoption services. Studies show that adoptive parents request a variety of services, yet few demonstration projects have been done to evaluate their effectiveness. In this paper, we recognize the predominance of attachment theory in post‐adoptive services and identify alternative approaches that may have a better fit with the needs and preferences identified by families. We also identify service adaptations for adoptive families that may amplify the power of existing service programs.