In this section, you can read newsletters and articles that can help you enhance your existing efforts to find and keep adoptive families. Resources are sorted into the following three categories:

*strategies-articles that explain techniques and ideas for recruiting and retaining adoptive families
*projects/programs-reports on specific, successful recruitment events or programs
*special populations-information about reaching a particular segment of prospective adoptive parents or about finding homes waiting children with certain characteristics

Funding from the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1998 through early 2002 enabled NACAC to develop the majority of these resources. All are designed to help child welfare professionals recruit and retain adoptive families. (Since some of these articles are several years old, it is possible that contact information listed for authors or other resources may be out of date. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.)

Do you have a recruitment or retention idea you would like to share? Contact Diane Riggs at dianeriggs@nacac.org to have your idea included in a future issue of Adoptalk.

Strategies

Recruiting on a Budget (Adoptalk, Summer 2003)

Targeted Recruitment
Recruiting News, June 2001

PDF file
Introduction
Social Marketing and Consumer Data Help Target Families
Sibling-Friendly Agencies and Practices Keep Children Together
Laying the Foundation to Welcome Gay and Lesbian Families
Single Parents Offer Permanence
Tips from the Adoption Exchange Association
Ask the Expert

Recruiting News, Spring 1999

Targeted Recruitment: The Most Effective Strategy - PDF · HTML

Collaboration (Recruiting News, December 2000)

PDF file
Introduction
Hints from the "Queen of Collaborations"
Ideas for Creative Collaborations
Furniture to Families: A Corporate Recruitment Partner
Illinois Hospital Employees Targeted as Adoptive Resources
Children's Clothing Stores Fund Interstate Adoption Project
Tips from the Adoption Exchange Association
Ask the Expert

Retention

Recruiting News, October 2000

PDF file
Introduction
Keys to Retention
Conducting an Exit Interview
Targeting City Employees
Adoption Readiness Groups
Experienced Parents Mentor and Retain New Families
Tips from the Adoption Exchange Association
Ask the Expert
Recruiting News, July 1999

Retaining Prospective Adopters - PDF · HTML

Child-Specific Publicity (Recruiting News, June 2000)

PDF file
Introduction
Selecting and Preparing Children
Interviewing Children
Capturing Compelling Photographs
Words That Describe Waiting Children
Model Programs
Ask the Expert
PDF version of Child Descriptions tip sheet
Text of Child Descriptions tip sheet

Technology (Recruiting News, February 2000)

PDF file
Introduction
National Adoption Center
Louisiana Adoption Resource Exchange
Utah DCFS and the Adoption Exchange
Wisconsin Special Needs Adoption Network
Texas Adoption Resource Exchange
Cuyahoga County CFS, Ohio
Web Links
Ask the Expert
Cross-Jurisdictional Placement (Recruiting News, December 1999)

PDF file
Overcoming Barriers
Ask the Expert
PDF file of resource list
PDF file of ICPC flow chart

Repetition and Consistency Are Key in Recruiting Efforts (Adoptalk, Fall 2002)

PDF · HTML

Creating Families through Videoconferencing (Adoptalk, Spring 1999)

PDF · HTML

Projects/Programs

New Practices at Barre SRS Yield Impressive Results (Adoptalk, Fall 2003)

Adoption Love Train Makes Connections: Destination Home (Adoptalk, Summer 2002)
PDF · HTML

Adoption Store Raises Awareness and Attracts Parents (Adoptalk, Spring 2002)

PDF · HTML

New Mexico's Heart Gallery Heightens Awareness and Interest (Adoptalk, Winter 2002)

PDF · HTML

Connections Energize Mississippi Recruitment Campaign (Adoptalk, Fall 2001)

PDF · HTML

Forsyth County Launches New Recruitment Campaign (Adoptalk, Summer 2001)

PDF · HTML

Community Leaders Support Recruitment after "Journey Home" (Adoptalk, Winter 2001)

PDF · HTML

Special Populations

Families and Children of Color

Recruiting News, March 2002

PDF file
Introduction
Remove Barriers and Latino Families Will Adopt
Homes for Black Children Recruits through Courtesy and Community Connections
The Indian Child Welfare Act: An Overview
Ask the Expert
Tips from the Adoption Exchange Association

Adoptalk, Spring 2000

PDF file
How to Find and Keep Families for African American Children
Faith-Based Recruitment Efforts (Recruiting News, March 2001)

PDF file
Introduction
Project Finds Black Families through Baptist Connections
Exchange Keeps Children within the Jewish Community
Project Helps Children Find Families for Themselves
Faith-Based Agencies Unite for City-Wide Adoption Sabbath
Rural Texas Chapel Makes Adoptions a Community Affair
Tips from the Adoption Exchange Association
Ask the Expert

Foster Parent Adoption (Recruiting News, August 2000)

PDF file
Helping Foster Families Break Barriers to Adoption
Ask the Expert
PDF file of Foster Parent Adoption tip sheet
Agency Practices to Encourage Adoption
Strengths and Needs Worksheet

Families for Teens

Recruiting News, Summer 1999

PDF file
Recruiting for Teens
Videoconferencing Finds Homes
Ask the Expert
Adoptalk, Summer 1999

Lessons Learned about Permanency for Teens - PDF · HTML

(NACAC)
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St. Paul, MN 55114
phone: 651-644-3036
fax: 651-644-9848
e-mail: info@nacac.org