Same-sex adoptive parenting: An affirmative and skills-building intervention

Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ may face significant challenges during adoption because legal inclusion does not guarantee that professionals are prepared to provide culturally competent and affirmative support. This study evaluates a theory-informed professional training intervention designed to enhance the capacity of adoption teams working with same-sex couples. Grounded in minority stress theory and affirmative practice principles, the 21-hour online program was delivered in Portugal following the legislation of same-sex adoption, responding to a prior assessment that showed a lack of training among professionals. Its effectiveness was evaluated among 45 participants using pre- and post-training measures. The results showed significant improvements in scientific knowledge and affirmative practice attitudes. No significant change was observed regarding support for equal rights, likely due to high baseline scores and the stability of socio-political views compared to domain-specific professional skills. Ultimately, the study contributes an evaluated model of LGBTQ+ affirmative training for adoption services and suggests that future research incorporate larger samples and controlled waiting-list designs.