ABSTRACT
The chapter presents study that provides important findings about older child adoptions and offers a framework for policymakers and program planners. Speedy efforts to place children while they are young and more able to adapt to an adoptive family's home are the starting point for reducing disruption. The cost of intensive adoption preservation services, additional adoption worker services, and adoption subsidies comprise the net investment amount. Adoption services to maintain placements should be reimbursed for the life of the adoption. Preservation of many more adoptions can be achieved at a small fraction of the adoption's value. The bulk of evidence on adoption outcomes informs us that older child adoptions far outdo the most heralded and successful of our early intervention programs like Headstart. Agency administrators and local and state policy makers can ensure that families understand the availability of adoption assistance.
