Adoption as a child protection measure

This report is a systematic research review of experience with adoption as a child protection measure compared to other placement measures, e.g. placing the child in foster care, in a residential care institution, or returning the child to the care of its biological parents.
The report’s conclusions are surprisingly clear: adopted children do better on almost all fronts. Their physical development is better and they do better in different aptitude tests (e.g. IQ tests) than children in other placement. Behavioural and mental problems are also fewer than with children placed in foster care or in residential care institutions. However, the age of adoption is important. The earlier in life a child is adopted, the more stable and unproblematic the relationship between the child and its adoptive parents will be.
The studies also indicate that adoptions with openness and contact between child, adoptive parents and biological parents work best. This challenges the widespread belief that anonymity serves all parties best.