Fostering and Adoption 369suggests that if they are unresolved or unrealistic in their own view of
relationships (as determined by the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI),
see Chapter 32), this is predictive of doing less well once children are
placed, with an increased chance of disruption. However, the current state
of knowledge is insufficient to use the AAI to select adoptive parents. It is
important to determine the extent of the support system and confiding
relationships available to the adoptive parents, as the placement will
inevitably be a considerable strain. Normal biological parents find having
one child a strain, and yet adoptive parents may have no chance to learn
‘on the job’ and perhaps have two children in middle childhood placed
with them, who may have considerable behaviour problems. While single
parents can make good foster or adoptive parents, it will be essential that
they have good, close support, as the job can be very demanding.
Subject review
Cohen N. (2008) Adoption.In: Rutter Met al.(eds)Rutter’s Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, 5th edn. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, pp. 502–518.
Rushton A, Minnis H. (2008) Residential and foster family care.In: Rutter
Met al.(eds)Rutter’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 5th edn. Wiley-
Blackwell, Chichester, pp. 487–501.
Further reading
Meltzer Het al. (2003)The Mental Health of Young People Looked After by Local
Authorities in England. Office of National Statistics, London.
Scott S, Lindsey C. (2003) Therapeutic approaches in adoption.In: Argent
H(ed.)Models of Adoption Support. British Association for Adoption and
Fostering, London, pp. 209–240.
Sinclair I. (2005)Fostering Now: Messages from Research. Department for Ed-
ucation, London. (An easy-to-read summary of several research projects
on fostering in England.)
Wade Jet al. (2010)Maltreated Children in the Looked After System: A Compar-
ison of Outcomes for Those Who Go Home and Those Who Do Not. Department
for Education, London.