About
Minnesotans have traditionally opened their hearts and homes to children in need from all over the world. Per capita, Minnesotans have one of the highest international adoption rates throughout the country. In the past, most of the children adopted from abroad came from foster families within a few months after birth. In 1990, the pre-adoption experiences of children abruptly changed with the wave of children adopted who had lived in Romanian orphanages throughout much of their lives. Additionally, countries such as China and Russia began to make orphanage-reared children available for adoption. It is estimated that today nearly 80 percent of children adopted by Minnesotans will have spent some or all of their lives in orphanages or other institutions. Thus adoption agencies, professionals, and parents are experiencing the challenges of this new population.
In 1997, the needs of this population inspired a group of child development physicians and professionals from the University of Minnesota to pool their knowledge about internationally adopted children. Recognizing that no one had a complete picture of the successes or needs of the 4000 internationally adopted children who had arrived in Minnesota between 1990-1998, dialogue was initiated with persons in the adoption community. With the support and assistance of adoptive families, adoption agencies and Minnesota's Department of Human Services, a grant for the International Adoption Project survey and family registry was designed and submitted to the National Institute of Health. In 1999, the NIH recognized the unique opportunity we have in Minnesota to capture such important information and funded the project. This grant was completed in 2001, and results can be found in the publications section.
From 2003-2009 we worked on a NIMH funded grant in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin at Madison. This grant supported the Brain and Behavioral Development in Internationally Adopted Children Study. Results from some of these studies can be found in the 2005 – 2009 IAP newsletters. As results are published in journal articles, they will be added to the publications section of this website.
The MN IAP is currently working on two major research projects, funded by 3 NIMH grants. The Transition into the Family Study follows children from soon after adoption, until they enter kindergarten. Some of the components of this study are being conducted as part of a multi-site center, including Oregon Social Learning center in Eugene Oregon, Emory University in Atlanta Georgia, and University of Maryland, in College Park, MD. More information about this study can be found here.
The BDNF study examines genes and resilience in internationally adopted adolescents. This study is being conducted in collaboration with Kathleen Thomas, here at the University of Minnesota, and B.J. Casey at the Sackler Institute in New York City.
A lot of our energy continues to go into developing our parent registry. We work with numerous adoption agencies throughout Minnesota to give parents the opportunity to join our registry and potentially participate in our future research. As of 2009, our registry held more than 4100 internationally adopted children. If you are interested in joining our registry please email us at iap@umn.edu or visit the participant participate of this website.
Our aim in all aspects of our research is to develop a clearer picture of the successes, challenges, and perhaps unmet needs of children who join their families through international adoption. This is a very rare opportunity! We will use the information we collect to better inform our community about international adoption. Our hope is that our research will aid families, agencies, and adoption professionals in helping children succeed.
"International adoption brings children with varied backgrounds into our state and as professionals who care for children we need to understand the whole range of experiences they bring to their families.
Dr. Dana Johnson, Co-investigator
"The IAP allows us ask and seek to answer some of the challenging and overlooked questions that confront adoptive families, from how to raise a child of a different race and ethnicity to how a child's brain works. "
Dr. Rich Lee, Co-investigator
As a parent of children adopted from another country, I’m excited about the groundbreaking research initiatives of the IAP. Important studies are underway that enhances our knowledge and understanding of children from around the globe whom we’ve chosen to include in our families.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
IAP researchers are busting myths, learning new facts, and exploring uncharted territory in the field of child development – all for the benefit of orphaned children, adoptive families, and those considering international adoption.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
As parents (and prospective parents) of internationally adopted children, we have an unprecedented opportunity to help further vital research by volunteering to include our own children in IAP studies. No one else can provide access to children who meet the study criteria, our participation is crucial.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
Please consider joining the IAP’s registry of adoptive families. By partnering with the IAP, we can play a key role in developing valuable scholarly resources for the adoption community in the years ahead.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
I was eight years old when I came to the US to join my new family. My parents didn’t understand why I acted the way I did. I also didn’t understand why they didn’t understand me. I think all of the testing I did will one day help parents understand a kid like me in a different way, I’m glad I had a chance to play a part.
Katia, 18 years old
Some of the testing I did was boring and some were cool. I did one test where I chewed gum and then spit in a little bottle. I also did tests where I played games I think all of the testing I did will one day help parents understand a kid like me in a different way, I’m glad I had a chance to play a part.
Katia, 18 years old
Working with children who joined their families through international adoption has proven to be some of the most challenging and gratifying research of my career.
Dr. Megan Gunnar, Principal Investigator
The IAP allows us ask and seek to answer some of the challenging and overlooked questions that confront adoptive families, from how to raise a child of a different race and ethnicity to how a child's brain works.
Dr. Rich Lee, Co-investigator
International adoption brings children with varied backgrounds into our state and as professionals who care for children we need to understand the whole range of experiences they bring to their families.
Dr. Dana Johnson, Co-investigator