I am the Principle Investigator for the Communication in Open Adoption Research Project (COARP), a longitudinal, dyadic study examining communication with and about birth parents in open adoption relationships. My research team of faculty, graduate, and undergraduate research collaborators. We have examined communication processes such as storytelling, naming, and social media contact. We have manuscripts in the works on relationship maintenance, expectations, and communication openness.
We are currently developing Wave 2 of the study so we can track communication practices over time. We will also incorporate the adoptees' perspectives to understand how adopted children and youth understand adoptive parents communication about birth parents.
COARP has been funded by the University of Missouri Richard Wallace Faculty Incentive Grant, Arts and Science Alumni Organization Faculty Incentive Grant, Research Council, and Research Board.
We are currently developing Wave 2 of the study so we can track communication practices over time. We will also incorporate the adoptees' perspectives to understand how adopted children and youth understand adoptive parents communication about birth parents.
COARP has been funded by the University of Missouri Richard Wallace Faculty Incentive Grant, Arts and Science Alumni Organization Faculty Incentive Grant, Research Council, and Research Board.
