Forced adoption support services scoping study Daryl Higgins, Pauline Kenny, Reem Sweid and Lucy Ockenden Report for the Department of Social Services by the Australian Institute of Family Studies February 2014

Activity 1: Strengths and weaknesses

My service type:

Based on your own knowledge and experience, please indicate to what extent you believe each service type addresses the listed service and support needs of those affected by past adoption policies and practices.

Response options X = No ✔ = Yes ? = Unsure

* If you wish to differentiate between the types of people accessing the service types, please use M to indicate mothers, F to indicate fathers and A to indicate adopted individuals.
Service type

Can this need be addressed?	Information Services (including identifying information and access to personal records)	Search and Contact Services	Post Adoption Support Services	Therapeutic Services	Peer Services
Trauma lens
Grief and loss
Secrecy and shame
Identity, attachment, abandonment and relationships
Assist with contacting family separated by adoption
Information (Birth Certificates; Medical histories; hospital records etc.) that is accurate and provided in a timely and sensitive manner
Affordable
Accessible
Diversity of support interventions
Educating and raising community awareness

Attachment D: Workshop Activity 3 worksheet

Activity 3: Good practice principles and accountability

My service type:

1. As your service/group/agency currently operates, how would you be able to demonstrate accountability for what your service can do?

2. In the spreadsheet, indicate the degree to which the current services/system matches what research shows are elements of good practice.

154Response format:

✓✓ indicates this is a key strength of this particular service type

✓ indicates this service type meets these criteria to some degree, but improvements are needed

X indicates this service type does not meet

N/A indicates this element of good practice is not applicable to the service type.

If you wish to differentiate between the types of people accessing the service types, please use M to indicate mothers, F to indicate fathers and A to indicate adopted individuals.

	Information Services (including identifying information and access to personal records)	Search and Contact Services	Post Adoption Support Services	Therapeutic Services	Peer Services

Accountability

Formalised complaints processes in place that are known and readily available to service users
Overseen by an independent governing body (board/committee)
Independent mediator facilitates searching for information and exchanging information
Administrative data are recorded – including referrals and service uptake

Accessibility (including affordability)

Identifiable staff to be point of contact
Flexible hours of operation
Servicing remote locations or those unable to physically access the service on site
Low cost or free
Timely responses to requests
Ongoing counselling and support

Knowledge of presenting issues and capacity to respond

Well-informed staff who understand the issues associated with adoption
Sensitivity to the needs of those seeking it (confidentiality, discretion, language used, etc.)
All staff are trained
Ongoing training/professional development opportunities are available to staff.
External clinical supervision is available to staff.

Diversity

Options for both professional and peer supports
Range of options for participation, i.e. mixed, mother/adoptee-specific, etc.
Range of support levels (e.g., access to support person—onsite and follow-up).
Support, education and information for the other family members is readily available.

Service interventions

Address issues associated with grief and loss; trauma; identity; shame; excess feelings of guilt; rejection; emotions of anger/hurt; difficulty in maintaining friendships or close relationships with family (attachment issues); anxiety; and self-confidence problems
Services are tailored to relevant “stage of the journey” of individuals
Clients’ expectations at commencement of support relationship are managed, particularly in relation to search and contact.
Support and follow-up from the agency involved is provided on an on-going basis.

Continuity of Care

Service has formalised links or arrangements with other relevant services for referral or shared care arrangements where own service can’t meet the presenting needs of service users.
Adoption-related supports are incorporated into existing services (such as Family Support Program funded services, or Medicare-funded psychological services)
Regular networking activities both within and external to adoption-specific agencies.
Awareness-raising of the impacts and history of past adoptions is prioritised.

Attachment E: Support service agencies approached

A thorough search of existing forced adoption support services produced 48. All these agencies were sent invitation emails to participate in a workshop to inform the scoping study.