In This Issue:
- Message from Rachel Pratt, CEO
- 2007 AdoptUsKids Press Release
- iGive: Another Way to Shop for the Adoption Exchange Association
- Help AdoptUsKids Find More Media Families Nationwide
Member News
Message from Rachel Pratt, CEO
Here is what has been happening behind the scenes on eve ryone’s behalf for the past two months. First, AEA has a new mission statement, made official by a September vote of your Board of Directors.
Because all children need families, the Adoption Exchange Association serves its members by stimulating innovative solutions, eliminating barriers, advocating, educating, and sharing excellent practice. Our central goal is to assist and encourage our members nationwide as they find adoptive families for all children and youth who wait in foster care.
Work on the Standards has also progressed. There was a lively and interesting discussion at the September AEA Board meeting. The Standards Committee consisting of (MaryJane Link (Children Awaiting Parents), Colleen Ellingson (Adoption Resources of Wisconsin), David Wing-Kovarik (Families Like Ours), and myself has been invited to present a workshop on AEA’s new Standards at the CWLA conference in New Orleans in December. Stay tuned—you will receive your copy over the next couple of months. We think this 2007 version offers some exciting new information.
Next, you will notice that the AEA website is new and improved, thanks in large part to AEA member Ella Zamora and AEA staff member Anastasia Edney. While it is only in an interim stage, the site—with its improved look and feel—offers clearer information for members and the general public. Take a look at www.adoptea.org.
Planning is underway for the 2008 AEA conference. In next month’s issue we plan to share save-the-date information with you.
I have developed internal reports to better track and understand AEA membership. I will be using these reports to help insure the growth of our organization. I have stepped up efforts to reach out quickly to members whose dues have lapsed as well as to invite new and former members to join. To do our work well, we all need a strong and growing network of organizations concerned with finding adoptive families for children. That is always at the forefront of my work.
Finally, as you will see from the next article, AEA just received official notification from the Children’ Bureau that The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids will continue for the next five years. We are grateful and honored, and ready to roll up our sleeves and get started with renewed vigor.
My hope is that we can all enter these fall months with the same feeling of renewal as we find permanent families for children.
THE ADOPTION EXCHANGE ASSOCIATION TO LEAD NATIONAL EFFORT TO FIND FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES FOR AMERICAN CHILDREN
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau again selects The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids as the recipient of a five-year Cooperative Agreement with an award of $3,669,500 in FY08.
Baltimore, Oct 2, 2007—Following a very successful five years, the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) has again been selected by the Children’s Bureau to lead AdoptUsKids, a national initiative to partner with States and Tribes to recruit foster and adoptive families for children in foster care. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are more than 500,000 children in foster care in the United States. Approximately 114,000 of those children will not be
able to return to their parents and are waiting for families to adopt them.
In 2002, the Children’s Bureau made its award to AEA, and The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids was launched. Founding partners of the Collaboration to AdoptUsKids include AEA, The Adoption Exchange, Inc. (Aurora, CO), Northwest Adoption Exchange (Seattle, WA), Child Welfare League of America (Arlington, VA), Holt International (Eugene, CO), and University of Texas at Austin.
According to AEA’s Chief Executive Officer, Rachel Pratt, during the first five years of The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids : 1) more than 8,000 children who were featured on adoptuskids.org were placed with adoptive families; and 2) almost 40,000 prospective parents inquired about becoming licensed to foster or adopt. Dixie Davis, AEA President, says "The AEA is determined that no child in America be without a family. We are proud to coordinate the efforts of over 205 adoption service organizations from across the country in this important service of The Children's Bureau." During the next five years, The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids will build upon its success to achieve the following:
- At least 70 free on-site days of training and technical assistance annually to States and Tribes
- Creation of an Interjurisdictional Information Network to facilitate the adoption of children across county and state lines
- Over 6,000 children each year listed on www.adoptuskids.org
- Enhancements to adoptuskids.org and adopte1.org that will increase use of the English and Spanish-language websites by professionals and families
- Increased retention of foster and adoptive parents through the development of effective and replicable respite programs to serve parents in their local communities.
Elements of The Collaboration that make these tremendous accomplishments possible include:
Training and Technical Assistance: AdoptUsKids has already provided more than 225 days of on-site training to child welfare staff in 39 states. Off-site training and technical assistance was made available to additional states.
- www.adoptuskids.org: Among many informational and support sections of the website is a database of waiting children and prospective adoptive parents where families and social workers can search and make matches. More than 16,000 children and 13,000 families have been registered, and more than 8,000 registered children were placed with adoptive families. www.adopte1.org is the companion website in Spanish.
- National Media Campaigns: The first-ever federally funded national multi-media campaign was created in partnership with the Advertising Council. Of the three campaigns that have been produced, two are in English and one in Spanish. Through this and other outreach over the past five years, almost 40,000 families inquired about becoming foster and/or adoptive parents. The campaigns generated over $150 million in donated advertising space so far, and won numerous advertising awards.
- Recruitment Response Teams: A national network was created to support prospective foster and adoptive families through the licensing process in English and Spanish. All states were served by RRTs as well the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Specialized RRTs were created to serve military families and other Americans living abroad, and American Indians.
- Publications: A variety of publications geared toward social workers, managers, and families was created and distributed to support States and Tribes in recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive families.
- Research: Two longitudinal studies were conducted with the participation of hundreds of parents and caseworkers to better understand barriers to adoption from foster care and adoption successes.
- Parent Support: To strengthen foster and adoptive families, 175 mini-grants were made available to parent support groups across the country. This initiative will be enhanced through a studied approach to the provision of respite care for foster and adoptive parents.
- Evaluation: An independent evaluation of all elements of The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids has informed strategic planning and ongoing operations.
The Adoption Exchange Association was founded in 1982. Because all children need families, the Adoption Exchange Association serves its members by stimulating innovative solutions, eliminating barriers, advocating, educating, and sharing excellent practice. The organization’s central goal is to assist and encourage our members nationwide as they find adoptive families for all children and youth who wait in foster care. In addition to The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids, AEA’s other initiatives include AdoptAir, which flies waiting children to meet families or participate in recruitment activities; publication of guidebooks for families and social workers that help eliminate adoption barriers; a monthly newsletter; a website for professionals and the public at www.adoptea.org; and bi-annual skills-building and networking conferences for members and other professionals.
2007 ADOPTUSKIDS PRESS RELEASE - SPANISH LANGUAGE
iGive: Another Way to Shop for the Adoption Exchange Association
May of you already shop online for everyday necessities, gifts, DVDs, books, and much more. With the holidays approaching, why not turn up to 26% of each purchase into a donation for the Adoption Exchange Association? It is a quick, easy, free way to raise even more money for our organization just by shopping online for the stuff everyone on your gift list needs!
Here is how it works: More than 1500 merchants make donations through iGive.com. The donation amount varies from 0.4% to over 25% of the amount you spend. When the iGive window pops up as you visit a participating merchant's site, the donation amount will be specified.
The Cause ID for the Adoption Exchange Association is 42141
Help AdoptUsKids Find More Media Families Nationwide
As you know, AdoptUsKids is dedicated to increasing the public awareness of children in foster care who are available for adoption. Members of the Adoption Exchange Association are an important part of our national media outreach. We receive many requests from radio, television and print reporters across the country. We have available spokesfamilies who are willing to participate in these interviews. However, we still need more families! If you are aware of any interested families who have experience with adoption and foster care, please ask them to contact Kate Kirkpatrick at kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org or (717) 545-5251.
Please tell your families that they they are the best voices for adoption! We also understand that each family has many commitments and therefore may need to decline an invitation to participate in an event or interview. By agreeing to be a spokesperson, it is not assumed that they will be available to participate at all times! Please contact Kate directly if you have questions. Thanks so much!
Because all children need families, the Adoption Exchange Association serves its members by stimulating innovative solutions, eliminating barriers, advocating, educating, and sharing excellent practice. Our central goal is to assist and encourage our members nationwide as they find adoptive families for all children and youth who wait in foster care.
AEA’s Seven Premier Members!
As of late August, AEA has been joined by seven Premier members—Children Awaiting Parents (Rochester, NY), Adoption Advocacy of South Carolina (Greenville, SC), The Adoption Exchange (Aurora, CO), Northwest Resource Associates (Seattle, WA), Three Rivers Adoption Council (Pittsburg, PA), Adoptions Unlimited (Chicago, IL), and Adopt America Network (Toledo, OH). Thank you, Premier members, for your vote of confidence in AEA!
For a $500 annual membership fee, Premier members receive all of the same benefits as other members at the $300 level:
- Monthly electronic AEA newsletter sent to your home or office (printed version available if preferred)
- One copy of all new AEA and AdoptUsKids publications (new members receive copies of past publications as well)
- Members only use of Adopt Air services
- Your organization’s link on the membership page of the AEA website
- 25% discount for one (1) attendee at the AEA Conference
- Opportunities to get out the word about your organizations through articles in the AEA newsletter
- The chance to participate in the planning of the AEA conference.
And only Premier members have:
- Your organization’s link on the home page of the AEA website
- 50% discount for one (1) attendee at the AEA Conference and 25% discount for up to four (4) more attendees
- The opportunity to enroll first in new organizational support features as they are developed, including shared purchasing and discount subscriptions.
- The chance to be the first to test new interactive members-only features on the AEA website!
Whichever level you choose, join AEA or renew your membership! 2007 is an exciting year to be a member of the Adoption Exchange Association. All membership levels include features and assistance to help you run your organizations and get more children adopted. As a member, YOU are the Adoption Exchange Association and have a voice in shaping the organization and how it serves you.
Iowa Peer Liaisons Provide Peer Support to Foster and Adoptive Parents
The Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association (IFAPA) offers peer support to foster and adoptive families through its Liaison Program. With 18 IFAPA Peer Liaisons located throughout Iowa, IFAPA can provide support to families living right in their geographic area. Key to the success of this initiative is that the peer Liaisons are experienced foster/adoptive parents who can relate to unique issues faced by foster and adoptive parents.
Here is how it works. Every newly-licensed foster family receives a welcome packet from IFAPA within 60 days. Then, each foster family receives a phone call from their area Peer Liaison within 45 days of receiving the welcome packet. After the first contact, families are called at least once a year by their area Peer Liaison. Families may also meet their Liaison at local events, trainings, and area support group meetings. Peer Liaisons work with, support, and even facilitate some of the support group meetings in their area.
Peer Liaisons can be helpful to even the most experienced foster/adoptive family. Families often find that their Peer Liaison is a good resource for information about new changes taking place in the foster care system or to learn about local resources available to families and children. Peer Liaisons can answer questions on policy, procedures, and rules. They can also show families how to advocate for themselves and how to maneuver through the system.
Each Peer Liaison works with an average of 300 foster and adoptive families. Peer Liaisons provide a listening ear to families and offer support and helpful information. All contacts made with Peer Liaisons are strictly confidential, unless the family has granted the Peer Liaison permission to release information. Families can find their area Peer Liaison by visiting the IFAPA website (www.ifapa.org) or calling IFAPA at 800-277-8145.
For additional info, contact IFAPA Executive Director, Lynhon Stout, at 515-289-4567 ext. 175 or lstout@ifapa.org
Adoption Exchange Association | 8015 Corporate Drive, Suite C | Baltimore, MD 21236 | 410.933.5700 | www.adoptea.org
