Columnist Sandra Thompson: Special-needs children focus of study

Sandra Thompson

Sunday, Aug. 6, 2000 | 9:20 a.m.

Sandra Thompson is vice president/editor of the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached at 259-4059 or e-mail at thompson@lasvegassun.com.

How can you develop effective policies governing children's lives without information or statistics about them?

It's a question that Thom Reilly, professor in the School of Social Work at UNLV, asked and then answered by conducting the first study of Nevada families who have adopted children with special needs. Siblings, minorities, older children and those with behavioral, emotional or physical problems are the most difficult to place.

Describing it as "exploratory," Reilly says it's the first in-depth study of its kind in Nevada. It provides a baseline of information that can be used to change policies and practices, depending on the children and families' needs identified by the study.

Reilly says the study shows a positive picture of families who are adopting special-needs children.

"We have a higher satisfaction rate than most states," he says.

Forty-one percent (373) of adoptive families throughout the state responded to the survey. The average number of children in the home was three. The average age of adopted children was 6.5.

Of the adoptive families, 54 percent were previous foster parents, 38 percent new parents and 7 percent relatives.

The adopted child's ethnic background broke down as: 55 percent white, 20 percent black, 19 percent mixed, 5 percent Hispanic and 1 percent other. The adoptive parents' ethnicity was 84 percent white, 11 percent black, 2 percent mixed, 2 percent Hispanic and 1 percent Native American.

The vast majority -- 74 percent -- of the children were exposed to drugs or alcohol at birth; 54 percent had developmental delays; 53 percent had a behavioral disorder; and 46 percent had an emotional disorder.

Despite all the problems they faced, 87 percent of families expressed attitudes consistent with good parenting, which Reilly says is significant. Sixty-two percent reflected realistic expectations for the kids; 16 percent endorsed high-risk practices (corporal punishment, abusive tactics).

Parents who adopted single children as opposed to sibling groups expressed more nurturing, nonabusing parenting attitudes. African-American parents endorsed more high-risk parenting practices. Those reporting to be more active in their religion endorsed more high-risk parenting practices (they were more strict), Reilly says.

A somewhat surprising statistic is that families with the lowest incomes -- ranging from $15,000 to $24,999 -- had significantly higher parenting satisfaction scores than families with incomes from $25,000 to $34,999 and $45,000 to $59,999. Reilly says families with lower incomes are more realistic about the challenges of raising a special-needs child. Families with more money have higher expectations for the child.

There is a significant positive relationship between number of years in the home and number of behavior problems experienced.

It was clear from the study that these adoptive parents need more financial subsidies, health benefits, dental and medical care for the children. A majority also said they did not receive enough information on the adopted child's background.

Reilly wants to use the study's data to improve policies and practices of the child welfare system. He had helped design a new child welfare model that would transfer foster care responsibilities from the state to Clark and Washoe counties, with the state handling those services in the rural areas. A legislative subcommittee will recommend approval of the model to the 2001 Legislature.

The study is only one component of the entire foster care picture. Reilly next will collect data from the foster and adopted kids' viewpoints. He specifically wants to follow kids who have aged out of the system.

It has been estimated that 60 percent of those kids nationwide become homeless because they aren't prepared for life beyond the system.

Reilly's data could be useful in designing programs that not only will nurture these children and meet their physical and emotional needs, but also will help them grow into successful, independent adults.