Publisher's Synopsis
This book is an attempt at understanding the foundations upon which the practice and theory of adoption and substitute care are based. It shows that mainstream thinking about adoption is flawed in a number of ways and uses historical and cross-cultural material to develop an alternative framework for understanding and practice. - - Much of the material which directly and indirectly relates to and informs the practice and theory of adoption and substitute care is dispersed across a variety of disciplines, including history, anthropology, ethnography, sociology, law, social work and social administration. This work attempts to integrate much of that material in a consistent historical and social theoretical framework. - - The implications of this study for social and welfare work and policy in the field of adoption and substitute care are profound. - - The book concludes with a set of recommendations for altering both the substance and form of our practices in the field of substitute care and indeed, of professional education leading to employment in that area.
