Elissa Madden

Associate Professor Baylor University

  • Waco TX

Research: child welfare, foster care, adoption (public & private), child & family mental health, service learning in social work education

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Are Birth Mothers Satisfied with Their Decisions to Place Children for Adoption? Time Will Tell, Study Says

Baylor research reveals effects of time, age, education and income on birth mothers’ satisfaction following ‘life-altering’ decision research findings from Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work could change the adoption landscape for birth mothers struggling with the life-altering decision to place their children. There is consensus among adoption researchers that for many birth mothers the experience of placing their children for adoption brings feelings of grief, loss, shame, guilt, remorse and isolation. Any level of satisfaction (or lack thereof) in such a decision varies. But how is that level of satisfaction – that feeling that the right decision was made – affected by time? “Little is known about the interaction of these two variables,” said Elissa Madden, Ph.D., associate professor of social work at Baylor and lead author of the study, "The Relationship Between Time and Birth Mother Satisfaction with Relinquishment." Much of Madden’s research focuses on the birth mother experience in the adoption process – an area, she said, has historically been underrepresented. “This article seeks to address a clear void in the literature,” she said, “and we hope it has some implications for future practices and adoption policies.” The research, published in the journal Families in Society, centers on data from an online survey of 223 birth mothers who had relinquished an infant for adoption during the last 25 years. This time period was selected because it reflects an increased acceptance and emphasis on open adoption arrangements between birth and adoptive parents, according to the study. Of those surveyed, nearly seven out of 10 reported periodic contact with the adopted child; most parents (94 percent) reported only a single child relinquished; a majority (56 percent) parented other children after the relinquishment; and on a scale of 1 to 5, participants reported a mean satisfaction with relinquishment score of 3.11. Among the study’s findings: 1. Satisfaction is not static. While many birth mothers reported satisfaction with their decision, the findings show that the more time that has passed since the birth mothers placed their child, the less overall satisfaction some birth mothers felt. Some prior research suggests birth mothers’ grief and adjustment attenuates with the passage of time. However, the researchers note “the findings of this analysis highlight the importance of not confusing birth mother’s satisfaction with her decision and the feelings of loss that she may feel about the placement.” A birth mother may feel she made the right decision regarding placement and yet still experience ongoing feelings of loss and grief even years later, Madden said. 2. Age had an inverse relationship with satisfaction. “As with time since the relinquishment, age of the respondents predicted an incremental decrease in satisfaction for every year they have aged,” researchers wrote. “It may be that the distance afforded by time, along with the internal resources and perspective that often comes with age, may have provided an opportunity for birth mothers to look back and reflect on what could have been.” 3. Higher education and higher income led to decreased satisfaction. “It is possible that birth mothers who have achieved educational and/or financial success may now feel dissatisfaction with their decision to place their child as they now believe, in retrospect, that they would have been able to acquire sufficient resources necessary to successfully parent their child,” researchers wrote. Additionally, the researchers noted that some birth mothers may feel that educational and financial success may have been achieved “at the expense of their opportunity to parent their child.” 4. Birth mothers who have current contact with their child were more likely to express satisfaction with their decision. “Prior research suggests that for some birth mothers, having contact with the child helps reduce feelings of anxiety about the child’s life and well-being, worries they may be having about the child feeling abandoned, and/or guilt about their decision,” the researchers wrote. 5. Birth mothers who work full-time were more likely to express increased satisfaction. “While the rationale for this finding is not immediately clear,” the researchers wrote, “it is possible that birth mothers who are employed full-time have achieved personal fulfillment or otherwise found success through their employment. It is also possible that for some birth mothers, there is recognition that they have less time or perhaps fewer resources for parenting and thus are more satisfied with their decision to place their child.” What are the implications of this research? Madden said there are long-term consequences for all members of the adoption triad – birth mothers, those seeking to adopt, and adoptees. She said, specifically, that adoption professionals need to be well-versed in the positive and negative repercussions for birth mothers. “Adoption professionals must be especially attuned to the needs and concerns of expectant mothers who seek their counsel, as many lack a full understanding of their options,” Madden said, reflecting on her earlier research. Madden and her fellow researchers believe this study and others like it could lead to changes in the adoption process. They suggest: Annual “grief and loss” training for adoption professionals State and federal policies ensuring birth mothers have access to ongoing post-relinquishment support services Free grief support groups for all birth mothers Adoption of national standards to ensure that expectant mothers and prospective adoptive parents receive standardized information detailing the benefits of ongoing post-adoption contact Stipends for expectant mothers to hire independent legal counsel to represent the mothers at the relinquishment and during sensitive discussion regarding post-adoption contact ABOUT THE STUDY "The Relationship Between Time and Birth Mother Satisfaction with Relinquishment" is published in the journal Families in Society. Authors are Elissa Madden, Ph.D., associate professor, Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, Baylor University; Scott Ryan, Ph.D., professor and dean, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington; Donna M. Aguiniga, Ph.D., associate professor, School of Social Work, University of Alaska – Anchorage; Michael Killian, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington; and Brenda Romanchik, L.C.S.W., independent practitioner. ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. ABOUT DIANA R. GARLAND SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work is home to one of the leading graduate social work programs in the nation with a research agenda focused on the integration of faith and practice. Upholding its mission of preparing social workers in a Christian context for worldwide service and leadership, the School offers a baccalaureate degree (B.S.W.), a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree and three joint-degree options, M.S.W./M.B.A., M.S.W./M.Div. and M.S.W./M.T.S., through a partnership with Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business and George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. program. Visit www.baylor.edu/social_work to learn more.

Elissa Madden

2 min

Baylor Adoption Expert Says Birth Mothers Need Increased Support During, Following Adoption Process

Dr. Elissa Madden's latest social work research centers on the experience of birth mothers who decide to place their children for adoption. Madden and her research team found that time impacts the level of satisfaction (or lack thereof) these women feel regarding their decision -and that impact isn't always positive. While many birth mothers reported satisfaction with their decision, the newest findings show that the more time that has passed since the birth mothers placed their child, the less overall satisfaction some birth mothers felt. Some prior research suggests birth mothers’ grief and adjustment attenuates with the passage of time. However, the researchers note “the findings of this analysis highlight the importance of not confusing birth mother’s satisfaction with her decision and the feelings of loss that she may feel about the placement.” A birth mother may feel she made the right decision regarding placement and yet still experience ongoing feelings of loss and grief even years later, Madden said. Madden's multiple studies of birth mothers' experiences have shown that there's a need for more resources for these women. “Adoption professionals must be especially attuned to the needs and concerns of expectant mothers who seek their counsel, as many lack a full understanding of their options,” Madden said. Madden and her team suggest: Annual “grief and loss” training for adoption professionals State and federal policies ensuring birth mothers have access to ongoing post-relinquishment support services Free grief support groups for all birth mothers Adoption of national standards to ensure that expectant mothers and prospective adoptive parents receive standardized information detailing the benefits of ongoing post-adoption contact Stipends for expectant mothers to hire independent legal counsel to represent the mothers at the relinquishment and during sensitive discussion regarding post-adoption contact Elissa Madden, Ph.D., associate professor, joined the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work in August 2016. Her primary research interest is in child welfare, with a particular focus on ways to promote permanency for children in foster care. Dr. Madden is a former child welfare conservatorship worker with Child Protective Services in Texas. She is a licensed social worker and has extensive experience working with children & families. Source:

Elissa Madden

Media

Biography

Elissa Madden, Ph.D., associate professor, joined the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work in August 2016 after previously serving as an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. Her primary research interest is in child welfare, with a particular focus on ways to promote permanency for children in foster care.

Dr. Madden is a former child welfare conservatorship worker with Child Protective Services (CPS) in Texas. She is a licensed social worker and has extensive experience working with children and families in a variety of practice settings. Prior to working at CPS, she served as a project director for a transitional housing program and as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) social worker at a local hospital.

Dr. Madden has co-authored publications regarding the need to increase adoptions from the public child welfare system and child welfare workforce issues and has presented numerous times at national child welfare and social work conferences regarding various child welfare topics, including post adoption services, the retention of child welfare workers, wraparound child welfare services, and openness in adoption. Additionally, Dr. Madden currently serves as the Assistant Editor of Adoption Quarterly, a peer-reviewed international, multidisciplinary journal that addresses continuity in adoption issues.

Dr. Madden was awarded a grant through the Donaldson Adoption Institute to complete a study to better understand the decision-making experiences of women and men who have placed a child for adoption, as well as the context in which options are discussed with expectant mothers and fathers by professionals in the adoption community.

Areas of Expertise

Child and Family Services
Foster Care and Adoptions
Social Work Education

Education

The University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D.

Social Work

Baylor University

M.S.W.

Social Work

Baylor University

B.A.

Social Work

Media Appearances

Adoption or abortion? Families, experts say it’s not that simple

KXAN-TV  online

2022-08-03

Elissa Madden, Ph.D., associate professor of social work at Baylor, is quoted about the grief and trauma that doesn’t always fade after placing a child for adoption with emotions resurfacing at times even after 10 or more years and suggests that birth mothers should have access to counseling services through adoption agencies at any time after relinquishment to help with the lasting grief.

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Articles

The Relationship Between Time and Birth Mother Satisfaction With Relinquishment

Families in Society

Elissa E. Madden, Scott Ryan, Donna M. Aguiniga, Michael Killian, Brenda Romanchik

2018-04-30

Using data from an online survey of 223 birth mothers who had relinquished an infant for adoption during the last 25 years, this analysis examines the influence of the length of time that has passed since relinquishment on birth mothers’ satisfaction with their decision to place their child for adoption. Time since relinquishment, age of the respondent, education level, and income had a significant inverse relationship with birth mothers’ satisfaction to place their child for adoption. Two variables were predictive of increased satisfaction with their decision: having current contact with the child and full-time employment. The findings underscore the importance of agencies and adoption professionals ensuring that birth mothers have access to ongoing postrelinquishment support services throughout the life course.

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Living on the edge: The postsecondary journeys of foster care alumni

College Student Affairs Journal

Tobolowsky, B., Madden, E. E., & Scannapieco, M.

2017-01-01

Foster care alumni (i.e., individuals who must exit care upon reaching a designated age – 18, 20, or 21, depending on the state) are one of the most educationally vulnerable populations in the U.S. (Zetlin et al., 2004) with only 7-13% of foster care alumni enrolling in higher education and even fewer graduating (Casey Family Programs, 2010). The researchers interviewed 12 foster care alumni who are or were enrolled in higher education to better understand their college experiences. The study found that these students may flounder because of social deficits from their time in care, making student affairs personnel particularly critical to their success. However, too often, campus staff provided little to no support, because they were unfamiliar with these students' unique needs and/or benefits (e.g., tuition waivers). Key implications for practice include providing training to staff who interact with these students to reduce their feelings of stigma as well as offering peer mentors to assist them through their educational journeys.

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Exploratory factorial analysis and reliability of the Child Welfare Trauma-Informed Individual Assessment Tool

Journal of Public Child Welfare

Madden, E. E., Scannapieco, M., Killian, M., & Adorno, G.

2016-09-29

This article presents the development and psychometric analysis of the Child Welfare Trauma-Informed Individual Assessment Tool, an instrument designed to measure the extent to which child welfare service providers employ trauma-informed practices with the children and families that they serve. Using the responses of 213 front-line child welfare workers, exploratory factor analysis was used on a seventeen-item scale, resulting in a four-factor model. Based on the results of this analysis, implications for potential uses of the instrument are discussed, and specifications for additional evaluation of the measure's validity are outlined.

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