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Katie Martin
Case Presentation
SOWK 492
The Miller family came to Nightlight Christian Adoptions because they wanted to grow
their family through adoption. They do not have any biological children. They found out about
Nightlight through a church they are attending when Nightlight was at their church for an event
called orphan Sunday. The Miller couples ethnicity is White/Caucasian, they are a male and
2. Practice situation:
The Miller familys home studies are completed and they have been approved by Nightlight
to move forward with their process. The couple are open to children of any race. They will be
happy with a child either male or female ages ranging from zero to two-years-old. Since the couple
are open to any ethnicity and they are also open to most health conditions, they were matched with
a child very quickly. They were matched within three weeks. Most waiting times for couples are
between six months to a year. They are very excited to be matched with a child. They have the full
support from both sides of their families. They also have support from the church they attend and
3. Diversity issues:
Since the Miller family are both White/Caucasian, there could be a chance when a pregnant
mother of a different race is viewing their profile book, the Miller family could not be picked to
parent the child because of their race. On the other hand, they could be picked to parent the child
because they are both white/Caucasians. However, if the Miller family are matched with a child
of a different race than them, later on the child might face some situations that might make him/her
A) Contact between adoptive and birth families: perspective from the Minnesota/Texas
The research of the article was longitudinal. The research was on various contact
arrangements for the triad; which includes birth mother, adoptive parents, and the adoptee
through domestic infant adoptions. The researchers found that there was more satisfaction in
life with the contact arrangements - regardless of the contact arrangements than the ones did
not have any contact arrangements. That satisfaction of contact helped researchers predict the
adjustment among adopted adolescents and emerging adults. The birth mothers had less
unresolved grief 12-20 years after placements. This shows the benefits of having an open
adoption between the birth parents/family and adoptive parents/family. It will help alleviate
problems for the triad in the future. Since the Miller family is already wanting a semi-open
adoption with their childs birth family, they will have less challenges when their child is
growing up. At the same time, the contact arrangements will help the child to form their own
self-identity.
This article helped to explain some of the expenses the adoptive parents might have to pay
for throughout the domestic adoption process in Colorado. This information is relevant to the
Miller family because they are going through the domestic adoption through a private agency. It
will help the Miller family to better understand some of the expenses that they might have to pay
during their adoption process and why they are paying the expenses.
This article is relevant to the Millers case because the article explained some of the
development out comes of an adopted child. Just like with an un-adopted child, there are many
teratogens that could affect the development out comes of an adopted child. One of the main
factor was the amount of stress the pregnant mother have during the pregnancy can have an
effect on the baby while they are still in their mothers womb. The miller couple needs to be
aware that there are some factors they cannot control, such as the birth mothers environment,
Another part of the article that is relevant to the Millers family being that they are open to
adopting a child of a different race than them. The article explained the importance for the
adoptive parents to acknowledge on their childs race and culture and really support the
development of racial pride and at the same time help the child to handle any bias that might
At this point, the Miller family are matched with a child. A birth mother has chosen them to
parent her child. A SAFE assessment has been conducted for the Miller couple to make sure they
are a good fit to foster/adopt a child. Cognitive/psychological intervention methods are used
when taking psychological evaluations of the clients that are thinking of either fostering,
fostering to adopt, or adopting children. A Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) was
used to successfully provide home studies to families that qualifies to foster or foster to adopt.
These assessments are very crucial because a vulnerable child will be placed with the Millers
home and they need to have a safe environment and a stable home for the child. The agency
needed to make sure the Miller couple are mentally and physically prepared to parent this child
and that they can provide that love and support for this vulnerable child.
Running head: CASE PRESENTATION 5
6. Interventions:
The interventions that were used to help the Millers to prepare for the adoption of their future
child included having them make a profile book so the birth mother can look through and pick
the couple to parent her child. They also took various trainings relating to adoption, such as the
CORE training, which is a training all adoptive parents are required to take before moving on to
the next step of their adoption process. The trainings include various ways to parent their
potential child, learning the different types of parenting styles, learning how to parent a child that
comes from trauma and how to parent a child of a different race than the adoptive parents. They
had to read a book called The Connected Child: Bring hope and healing to your adoptive family
which is required of all parents that are looking to adopt. The Miller family has also filled out the
child desire form to help Nightlight to find a child that the Miller family can bring in to their
family.
7. Research design:
The goal for the Miller family would be to match them with a child that is within their child
desired form. Before they are matched with a child, they will need to complete all the required
paperwork for the agency and for the states involved in the adoption process. The goals would be
met when the Miller couple is matched with a child and that their adoption will be finalized. The
objectives would be achieved when the Miller couple are matched with their child because they
have to complete the paperwork in order to be placed with a child. The instrument that is used to
indicated goal attainment is the level of achievements that is completed with each task ranging
from no progress to completely achieved. The indicator of success would be used by a check
mark that are shown below on the table. At this point, the Millers have all check marks
Running head: CASE PRESENTATION 6
indicating they have completely achieved their tasks. Another indicator of success would be the
miller couple are able to move on to the next stage of their case.
8. Problems or dilemmas:
Currently, the problems and dilemmas we are facing with the Miller family is funding for their
domestic adoption. The family has to pay a match fee, which takes place when they are matched
with a child. Normally, it takes a while for a family to be matched with a child, so the family have
time to raise the money. However, the Miller family was matched with a child really quickly. They
were matched quicker than usual because they are very open to various needs of their potential
child. To help with the dilemma, Nightlight needs to come up with a payment plan for the Miller
couple. They are very motivated to raise money with the help of their family, friends, co-workers,
9. Specific questions that you would like the class to address you with the case:
If the Miller couple are matched a child of a different race/ethnicity, how can the Miller
Are there any government supports the Miller family should consider on applying for to
Research Design
Objective: Complete all agency and state required paper work before matched with a child.
Achieved
Achieved
Completely
Achieved
Running head: CASE PRESENTATION 8
Ecomap
Maternal
Side
Paternal
Miller Family Side
Early 30s
White/Caucasian
Friends
Church
Support
Key
Strong support
Running head: CASE PRESENTATION 9
References
Grotevant, H. D., McRoy, R. G., Wrobel, G. M. and Ayers-Lopez, S. (2013), Contact Between
Adoptive and Birth Families: Perspectives From the Minnesota/Texas Adoption Research
Grotevant, H., & McDermott, J. (2014). Adoption: Biological and Social Processes Linked to
Sheafor, B.W., & Horejsi, C.R. (2014). Techniques and Guidelines for Social Work Practice
United States. Administration for Children, Youth, Families, & Child Welfare Information
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Information Gateway.
Running head: CASE PRESENTATION 10