Establishing the context of this study of adoptive parenthood and open adoption, MacDonald describes the legal, policy, and social frameworks that shape the experience of adoptive parenthood. The role of adoption in child welfare policy is identified, specifically in the UK and USA where it provides permanence for significant numbers of children in State care.

This Op-Ed piece from the New York Times offers harsh criticism of the U.S. and Mexican policy that sends young refugees back to the communities they are risking their lives to escape.

The present study focused on whether parenting and family factors explain variance in cognitive and linguistic catch-up in children adopted internationally.

In the article, the author argues that more openness in foster care arrangements is beneficial to children’s wellbeing as well as to their foster and biological families.

This article highlights effective approaches to staying connected with (i.e., recruiting, relocating, and retaining) youth participants who have transitioned out of foster care in longitudinal research studies.

This study describes natural mentoring among preadolescent children placed in out-of-home care and examines the association between natural mentoring and demographic, maltreatment, placement, and psychosocial characteristics.

This six-part video series from the BBC highlights the discrimination and challenges that poor women of color face in the child welfare system in New York City. 

This paper from the U.S. National Academy of Medicine argues the importance of investment in early childhood development and serves as a call to action “to close the gap between what is known and what is done to support the development of children globally and, in turn, sustainable progress for communities and nations.”

A new US federal rule, to be enacted this December, will require judges presiding over foster and adoption proceedings in every state in the country to ask about the child’s status as a tribal member, according the article.

This consultancy project consists of a 3 month period to further research and develop plans for a youth-led media campaign in the UK, USA, and Australia.