In This Issue:
Message from Rachel Pratt, CEO
2008 is the year to dream big and accomplish even more toward our common goal of finding adoptive families for all waiting children.
To be the strongest organization that it can be AEA needs your ideas and energy. I have travelled to meet with several AEA members, met others at conferences and meetings, and will again get on the road to visit more members in 2008. Many of you have shared ideas for AEA newsletter articles, and I am on the mailing lists to receive scores of member newsletters and other mailing. Tell us what we are doing right and what we could do better. Brag about your fabulous programs so that the AEA newsletter can highlight them as best practices for others to learn and share. Invite me to your site, or come to visit us in Baltimore. And, by all means, my “door” is always open to hear from you through phone or e-mail.
Through our good work, I look forward to making a significant difference in the lives of children and families in 2008!
Permanency Planning for Parents with Terminal Illnesses
In December 2007, the Adoption Exchange Association received a generous contribution from FairPay Solutions, a healthcare savings company located in Addison., TX (www.fairpaysolutions.com).
At FairPay’s request, AEA will be sharing information among members about permanency planning for children whose parents have a terminal illness. If you haven’t already, tell us about the work you are doing as well as any assistance you might need to launch programs for these vulnerable families in your organizations.
T his month AEA will also be meeting with staff from The National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center (AIA) to learn more about their work in this arena, particularly AIA’s efforts to create and implement Standby Guardianship nationwide as a planning tool for these families.
Stay tuned for additional information on this important aspect of our permanency work.
Changes at AdoptUsKids
As The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids moved into this new five-year cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau, there were several notable changes.
- Holt International Children’s Services and the Child Welfare League of America, two of the Founding Partners of The Collaboration five years ago, notified AEA that they will not be actively involved in AdoptUsKids going forward. AEA wishes to thank them, especially Susan Cox, Ada White, and Diana English for all their support and hard work on behalf of AdoptUsKids. Susan and Ada, along with Dixie Davis, crafted the winning proposal five years ago! Susan Cox will remain with Holt but has other initiatives that will occupy her time. Ada White has retired from CWLA and is consulting in the child welfare and adoption community. And Diana English is now Senior Director of Strategic Consulting & Systems Improvement with Casey Family Programs.
- Dr. Ruth McRoy and her team at the School of Social Work at the University of Texas, Austin is providing the Evaluation component for AdoptUsKids in this new funding cycle. Ruth and her Team know the project well having been engaged in the research component of AdoptUsKids for the past five years
- Melody Roe, Director of Training & Technical Assistance for AdoptUsKids through our contract with The Adoption Exchange in Colorado, resigned her position effective mid-November and is moving on to a position as Associate Director at the National Resource Center for Organizational Improvement.
- Tava Serpan and Sharri Black have been hired by The Adoption Exchange to complete its Training and Technical Assistance staff. See article, below, entitled New Staff at The Adoption Exchange.
- Kathy Ledesma, who served at the Children’s Bureau in Washington DC for the past 18 months as the Federal Project Officer for AdoptUsKids, returned to her home in Oregon and resumed work for the State. Heidi Staples assumed the duties at the Bureau as Federal Project Officer in her role as Children’s Bureau Adoptions Specialist. Heidi comes from the San Diego County public agency.
AdoptUsKids Partner News: The Adoption Exchange Announces New Staff
Following a national search to fill two open positions, The Adoption Exchange is pleased to announce the hiring of Tava Serpan, MSW as VP of The Education Center/Director of AdoptUsKids T/TA , and Sharri Black, MSW as Manager of AdoptUsKids T/TA.
Tava Serpan, MSW will fill the position of Vice President of Education Center and AdoptUsKids Training and Technical Assistance Director beginning February 4, 2008. Tava’s experiences as a Director of Residential Services for developmentally disabled children and adults, Director of Organizational Change and Innovation at the Kansas Neurological Institute, and her experiences in community planning (CHIP) bring unique credentials and skills to this position for meeting our requirements for strategic planning, change management, group facilitation and developing and implementing training programs. She demonstrates high energy and initiative, has excellent organization and communication skills and is known as an innovator, self-directed learner and strong team member. She has excellent background in facilitating stakeholder dialogue, consensus building and conflict resolution. Tava will be based in the Aurora, CO offices of The Adoption Exchange, Inc.
Sharri Black, MSW will fill the new position of Manager of AdoptUsKids T/TA, beginning January 21, 2008. Sharri has over 28 years of experience in child welfare in both public and private settings. She was an adoption worker and an adoption manager for Spaulding for Children’s program specializing in older African American children. She is experienced in faith-based recruitment, retention and community initiatives and has developed curriculum to train foster and adoptive parents and professionals. From 8/96 to 10/00, she served as State-wide director for Kansas’s privatized adoption program. She was most recently involved in the Kansas Systems of Care Initiative, with specific responsibility to develop programs and opportunities to involve families and youth in having a voice in the child welfare system. Sharri is experienced first hand with foster care and adoption as an adoptee herself and adoptive parent of three children adopted through Michigan’s foster care system. She has extensive experience in training and public speaking on permanency for children and adoption. Sharri has an MSW and will work from her home in Kansas, traveling approximately half time.
Help AdoptUsKids Find More Media Families Nationwide
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!
Register Now for Upcoming Conferences
Child Welfare League of America 2008
Feb. 25–27, 2008 (Washington, D.C.)
Black Administrators in Child Welfare
March 2–4, 2008 (Baltimore, MD)
National Conference on Juvenile Justice
March 9–12, 2008 (St. Louis, MO)
National Foster Parent Association
May 12–16 (Atlanta, GA)
National Court Appointed Special Advocates
June 7–10 (Washington, D.C.)
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Justices annual conference
July 27–30, 2008 (Norfolk, VA)
Renew Your Membership in AEA
Why should your organization become a member of the Adoption Exchange Association? As a member, YOU are the Adoption Exchange Association and have a voice in shaping the organization and how it serves you. All membership levels include features and assistance to help you run your organizations and get more children adopted.
Individual and Organization Membership
- 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.
Premier Membership
All of the above plus:
- 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!
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.
Adoption Exchange Association | 8015 Corporate Drive, Suite C | Baltimore, MD 21236 | 410.933.5700 | www.adoptea.org
