Adoption Exchange Association Newsletter

As AEA moves into the fall, we are also entering the 2nd year of our new cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau for AdoptUsKids. Year two kicks off with a partner meeting in DC with the Children’s Bureau. At that meeting we will discuss how new directions— including the just-passed child welfare legislation and a new emphasis on prospective foster parents—will be incorporated into the work we do.

In the near future, everyone will hear about the nine Diligent Recruitment Grantees and five regional Training and Technical Assistance Implementation Centers. Through AdoptUsKids, AEA will be working in varying capacities with all of those awardees. And, as always, we will be bringing the experiences and learning back to our member agencies. It’s an exciting time to have such a central role in the national child welfare arena. We are honored and humbled everyday by the challenges and rewards of this work.

On September 17, the U.S. Senate passed the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (HR 6893). According to the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the bill now awaits signature by President Bush. Once signed, the legislation will:

Thanks to NACAC and Voice For Adoption for providing the excellent summaries of this information shown above. And thanks to everyone whose hard work and advocacy have made this new legislation possible.

Ellen W. Carey Scholarship Fund

The 2007 Ellen W. Carey Award honored DebyAnn Lavon James, a native of Silver Spring, Maryland. At the time of the award, Ms. James, a mother of two young children, had been in the child welfare field for more than eight years, specializing in Child Protective Services.   Following graduation from Howard University, DebyAnn James plans to continue in family and child services on a direct services level. She also dreams of opening an agency to serve adolescent parents.

In tribute to Ellen W. Carey, the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) created this award in 2004. It is given annually to an M.S.W. student, with an interest in child welfare, in his or her second year of study at Howard University.   Today I am writing to ask you to consider a tax-deductible gift to AEA. Through your contribution, you will honor Ellen W. Carey—a remarkable advocate for children, friend, mentor, and colleague—and, at the same time, give hope and assistance to a promising young person committed to a career in child welfare. The 2008 recipient will be chosen this month and he or she will receive the award at a reau at the time of her death on December 11, 2003. Ms. CChildren’s Bureau luncheon in Washington D.C. in October 2008.

Ellen W. Carey was Director of the Child Welfare Capacity Building Division of the Children's Buarey had led the Division since its inception, having joined the Children's Bureau in 1992 as National Adoption Specialist. Throughout her thirty-eight years career, Ellen W. Carey worked on behalf of children in the child welfare system. She took a creative approach to recruitment and was truly committed to children of color and children with special needs. Ellen had risen in her profession to a point of enormous national responsibility and prestige, but never forgot the reason for the work—to achieve permanency and safety for the nation’s children. She was known for her passionate advocacy for adoption, foster care, and the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Those who worked with Ellen Carey considered her to be a lifelong mentor and feel a debt of gratitude for knowing her.

Organizations and individuals can contribute to the Ellen W. Carey Scholarship Fund by making a contribution on-line at http://www.adoptea.org/Donate/elleWcarey.html, or by mailing a check made payable to the Adoption Exchange Association and write “Ellen W. Carey Award” in the memo field.

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 know families who might be interested—families who speak either Spanish or English and who have experience with adoption and foster care— please ask them to contact:

English-Speaking Families
Kate Kirkpatrick
kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org
(717) 545-5251

Spanish-Speaking Families
Carmen Hernandez
chernandez@adoptuskids.org
570-426-9169

Please tell your families that 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!


September 2008
In This Issue: Message from Rachel Pratt POLICY ALERT: Senate Passes H.R. 6893 Ellen W. Carey Scholarship Fund Help AdoptUsKids Find More Media Families Nationwide Member News: Member Highlights	Message from Rachel Pratt As AEA moves into the fall, we are also entering the 2nd year of our new cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau for AdoptUsKids. Year two kicks off with a partner meeting in DC with the Children’s Bureau. At that meeting we will discuss how new directions— including the just-passed child welfare legislation and a new emphasis on prospective foster parents—will be incorporated into the work we do. In the near future, everyone will hear about the nine Diligent Recruitment Grantees and five regional Training and Technical Assistance Implementation Centers. Through AdoptUsKids, AEA will be working in varying capacities with all of those awardees. And, as always, we will be bringing the experiences and learning back to our member agencies. It’s an exciting time to have such a central role in the national child welfare arena. We are honored and humbled everyday by the challenges and rewards of this work. back to top POLICY ALERT: Senate Passes H.R. 6893 On September 17, the U.S. Senate passed the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (HR 6893). According to the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the bill now awaits signature by President Bush. Once signed, the legislation will: Reauthorize and update the adoption incentives program Gradually de-link Title IV-E adoption assistance from income requirements so that all children with special needs eventually have access to this federal support Provide for Title IV-E funding of kinship guardianship placements Extend direct Title IV-E funding to tribal governments Allow states to receive federal reimbursement for support provided to foster youth up to age 21 Create a grant program to support kinship caregivers Require reasonable efforts to keep siblings together Require agencies to inform prospective adopters about the tax credit Thanks to NACAC and Voice For Adoption for providing the excellent summaries of this information shown above. And thanks to everyone whose hard work and advocacy have made this new legislation possible. back to top Ellen W. Carey Scholarship Fund The 2007 Ellen W. Carey Award honored DebyAnn Lavon James, a native of Silver Spring, Maryland. At the time of the award, Ms. James, a mother of two young children, had been in the child welfare field for more than eight years, specializing in Child Protective Services. Following graduation from Howard University, DebyAnn James plans to continue in family and child services on a direct services level. She also dreams of opening an agency to serve adolescent parents. In tribute to Ellen W. Carey, the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) created this award in 2004. It is given annually to an M.S.W. student, with an interest in child welfare, in his or her second year of study at Howard University. Today I am writing to ask you to consider a tax-deductible gift to AEA. Through your contribution, you will honor Ellen W. Carey—a remarkable advocate for children, friend, mentor, and colleague—and, at the same time, give hope and assistance to a promising young person committed to a career in child welfare. The 2008 recipient will be chosen this month and he or she will receive the award at a reau at the time of her death on December 11, 2003. Ms. CChildren’s Bureau luncheon in Washington D.C. in October 2008. Ellen W. Carey was Director of the Child Welfare Capacity Building Division of the Children's Buarey had led the Division since its inception, having joined the Children's Bureau in 1992 as National Adoption Specialist. Throughout her thirty-eight years career, Ellen W. Carey worked on behalf of children in the child welfare system. She took a creative approach to recruitment and was truly committed to children of color and children with special needs. Ellen had risen in her profession to a point of enormous national responsibility and prestige, but never forgot the reason for the work—to achieve permanency and safety for the nation’s children. She was known for her passionate advocacy for adoption, foster care, and the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Those who worked with Ellen Carey considered her to be a lifelong mentor and feel a debt of gratitude for knowing her. Organizations and individuals can contribute to the Ellen W. Carey Scholarship Fund by making a contribution on-line at http://www.adoptea.org/Donate/elleWcarey.html, or by mailing a check made payable to the Adoption Exchange Association and write “Ellen W. Carey Award” in the memo field. back to top 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 know families who might be interested—families who speak either Spanish or English and who have experience with adoption and foster care— please ask them to contact: English-Speaking Families Kate Kirkpatrick kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org (717) 545-5251 Spanish-Speaking Families Carmen Hernandez chernandez@adoptuskids.org 570-426-9169 Please tell your families that 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! back to top
Our Mission
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.
	Member News Member Highlights A New On-Line Look for Three Rivers Adoption Council! As announced in the organization’s most recent newsletter, theTRAC website has recently received a make-over. With it new streamlined design, the site contains the same great information along with some new features. The redesign more prominently features waiting children, and provides information and resources to waiting families, adoptive families and those working in the adoption field. View TRAC’s site, at http://3riversadopt.org. Make sure AEA is on your mailing list so that all members can hear about your upcoming events, promising practices, and successes. back to top
Adoption Exchange Association \| 8015 Corporate Drive, Suite C \| Baltimore, MD 21236 \| 410.933.5700
www.adoptea.org