The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which agency and nonagency supportive resou... more The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which agency and nonagency supportive resources contributed to the stability and well-being of 34 newly adoptive families over 3 years. Results revealed significant pre- to post-adoption declines in families' contact and satisfaction with formal and informal helping resources. Greater pre-adoption contact with formal adoption agency staff predicted adoption stability and lower levels of family conflict at the 3-year assessment. The results highlight the importance of providing adoptive families with formal and informal support that meets their evolving needs.
This exploratory study assessed caseworkers' and foster parents' experience, training, and attitu... more This exploratory study assessed caseworkers' and foster parents' experience, training, and attitudes related to youth's post-adoption contact with birth family members. The Open Adoption Scale, a validated instrument, was used to measure the attitudes of 122 caseworkers and 127 foster parents toward post-adoption contact. Only 7.4% of caseworkers and 26.8% of foster parents received ''thorough'' training in post-adoption contact. Caseworkers were more favorable toward post-adoption contact than foster parents. Experienced workers were more open to post-adoption contact between birth parents and adopted children. The results of this study suggest the need for a more well-established infrastructure of training and support.
The stability of adoptions involving children with special needs is likely to be enhanced when fa... more The stability of adoptions involving children with special needs is likely to be enhanced when families perceive that they are receiv-ing support. The purpose of this study was to identify the types offormal and informal supports that are used and desired by families who are ...
This study explored the need for and use of support by preadoptive families of children with spec... more This study explored the need for and use of support by preadoptive families of children with special needs in the Hope for the Children program. The families live in a community alongside other foster and adoptive parents, senior citizen volunteers, tutors, therapists, mentors, and family advocates, and receive extensive community supports. Descriptive results from the study provide a basis for recommendations about the use of coordinated service delivery systems to promote adoption success.
such as computers, Internet and cell phones are rapidly penetrating into many homes in Nigeria. S... more such as computers, Internet and cell phones are rapidly penetrating into many homes in Nigeria. Social critics have argued whether these devices result in either positive or negative change in the lives of families. The researchers examined the literature about family use of ICT and also looked at how these technologies affect families ' social networks, work, and interventions with families. The researchers also surveyed 570 adult students to examine the adoption, utilization, and social impact of ICT among them and found that perceptions vary with the use of ICT in various families. Finally, the authors suggested directions for future research on communication technology within the context of families. Keywords-Information communication technolies, family, Internet, Nigeria, adoption. with the impact of ICT on family as much of previous studies documented either positive or negative impact of ICT on the family. This queries our understanding of the adoption and utilisation of...
Information and Communication Technology devices such as computers, Internet and cell phones are ... more Information and Communication Technology devices such as computers, Internet and cell phones are rapidly penetrating into many homes in Nigeria. Social critics have argued whether these devices result in either positive or negative change in the lives of families. The researchers examined the literature about family use of ICT and also looked at how these technologies affect families' social networks, work, and interventions with families. The researchers also surveyed 570 adult students to examine the adoption, utilization, and social impact of ICT among them and found that perceptions vary with the use of ICT in various families. Finally, the authors suggested directions for future research on communication technology within the context of families.
— Information and Communication Technology devices such as computers, Internet and cell phones ar... more — Information and Communication Technology devices such as computers, Internet and cell phones are rapidly penetrating into many homes in Nigeria. Social critics have argued whether these devices result in either positive or negative change in the lives of families. The researchers examined the literature about family use of ICT and also looked at how these technologies affect families' social networks, work, and interventions with families. The researchers also surveyed 570 adult students to examine the adoption, utilization, and social impact of ICT among them and found that perceptions vary with the use of ICT in various families. Finally, the authors suggested directions for future research on communication technology within the context of families.
The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which agency and nonagency supportive resou... more The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which agency and nonagency supportive resources contributed to the stability and well-being of 34 newly adoptive families over 3 years. Results revealed significant pre- to post-adoption declines in families' contact and satisfaction with formal and informal helping resources. Greater pre-adoption contact with formal adoption agency staff predicted adoption stability and lower levels of family conflict at the 3-year assessment. The results highlight the importance of providing adoptive families with formal and informal support that meets their evolving needs.
This exploratory study assessed caseworkers' and foster parents' experience, training, and attitu... more This exploratory study assessed caseworkers' and foster parents' experience, training, and attitudes related to youth's post-adoption contact with birth family members. The Open Adoption Scale, a validated instrument, was used to measure the attitudes of 122 caseworkers and 127 foster parents toward post-adoption contact. Only 7.4% of caseworkers and 26.8% of foster parents received ''thorough'' training in post-adoption contact. Caseworkers were more favorable toward post-adoption contact than foster parents. Experienced workers were more open to post-adoption contact between birth parents and adopted children. The results of this study suggest the need for a more well-established infrastructure of training and support.
The stability of adoptions involving children with special needs is likely to be enhanced when fa... more The stability of adoptions involving children with special needs is likely to be enhanced when families perceive that they are receiv-ing support. The purpose of this study was to identify the types offormal and informal supports that are used and desired by families who are ...
This study explored the need for and use of support by preadoptive families of children with spec... more This study explored the need for and use of support by preadoptive families of children with special needs in the Hope for the Children program. The families live in a community alongside other foster and adoptive parents, senior citizen volunteers, tutors, therapists, mentors, and family advocates, and receive extensive community supports. Descriptive results from the study provide a basis for recommendations about the use of coordinated service delivery systems to promote adoption success.
such as computers, Internet and cell phones are rapidly penetrating into many homes in Nigeria. S... more such as computers, Internet and cell phones are rapidly penetrating into many homes in Nigeria. Social critics have argued whether these devices result in either positive or negative change in the lives of families. The researchers examined the literature about family use of ICT and also looked at how these technologies affect families ' social networks, work, and interventions with families. The researchers also surveyed 570 adult students to examine the adoption, utilization, and social impact of ICT among them and found that perceptions vary with the use of ICT in various families. Finally, the authors suggested directions for future research on communication technology within the context of families. Keywords-Information communication technolies, family, Internet, Nigeria, adoption. with the impact of ICT on family as much of previous studies documented either positive or negative impact of ICT on the family. This queries our understanding of the adoption and utilisation of...
Information and Communication Technology devices such as computers, Internet and cell phones are ... more Information and Communication Technology devices such as computers, Internet and cell phones are rapidly penetrating into many homes in Nigeria. Social critics have argued whether these devices result in either positive or negative change in the lives of families. The researchers examined the literature about family use of ICT and also looked at how these technologies affect families' social networks, work, and interventions with families. The researchers also surveyed 570 adult students to examine the adoption, utilization, and social impact of ICT among them and found that perceptions vary with the use of ICT in various families. Finally, the authors suggested directions for future research on communication technology within the context of families.
— Information and Communication Technology devices such as computers, Internet and cell phones ar... more — Information and Communication Technology devices such as computers, Internet and cell phones are rapidly penetrating into many homes in Nigeria. Social critics have argued whether these devices result in either positive or negative change in the lives of families. The researchers examined the literature about family use of ICT and also looked at how these technologies affect families' social networks, work, and interventions with families. The researchers also surveyed 570 adult students to examine the adoption, utilization, and social impact of ICT among them and found that perceptions vary with the use of ICT in various families. Finally, the authors suggested directions for future research on communication technology within the context of families.
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Papers by Doris Houston