Non-Traditional Recruitment for Teens and Pre-Teens

The "Field of Dreams" One-to-One Approach

Recent research documented what we've known all along: most people will adopt older children based on personal contact with an agency staff member or adoptive parent. The "one-to-one personal contact" approach is based on the belief that if we offer a parent preparation course (ours is called A-OK), people will come - if we reach out to them in an "up close and personal" way. The following strategies have worked well for us in communities where we offered our A-OK course. Each strategy involves staff providing services to people while talking with them about our program.

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* The Supermarket Grassroots Approach: One of the best ways to meet people in a community is to bag groceries at the local supermarket for the four Saturdays before your course. This provides many opportunities for our staff to share information about A-OK.

* The Parking Angel Approach: We have YGB staff and volunteers stroll the main business avenues, putting quarters in expired meters. We leave a piece of paper that explains the Parking Angel, asks for a donation, and describes our program and the A-OK course. While the parking angels patrol, they talk to anyone who's willing to listen.

* The Doorknob Campaign: We walk doorknob to doorknob, distributing flyers about our program. While we do this, we meet many community residents and discuss with them teens and pre-teens who need permanent families.

The "A Family is NOWHERE" Approach

"A Family is No Where" or "A Family is Now Here." It's our choice. What is in the individual recruiter's mind is really the only thing that matters. Once a recruiter decides a family is "now here," that family can usually be found in the life cycle of the child. All children in foster care have people who serve as their resources. Consider the list for a child in a group home: social worker, therapist, volunteers, maintenance staff, teachers, relatives, and more. There could be a dozen people who may be approached to offer a home to the child. As recruiters, we must approach these people or add new people to the child's life cycle.

* Approaching Adults Who Are Part of the Child's Life Cycle: If given agency permission, our staff will work with the child to identify a prospective family. We approach this family with the utmost sensitivity. Were we simply to ask, "Would you adopt Johnny?", the answer would invariably be "No." But the person may be willing to come to our course if we explain Johnny's need for a permanent family, as well the financial subsidies available for adoption, the process of pre-adoption education, and the availability of post-placement support. We have found that half of the people who attend A-OK make the decision to bring the child permanently into their home. If the first person we approach doesn't do that, we'll move on to the second and third.

* Certifying Prospective Adoptive Parents As Mentors to Children: If agency workers will not help us identify life cycle members, we create additional resources for the child. We ask individuals who have taken A-OK and are certified to adopt a child to be mentors and volunteers in treatment centers and group homes. They have a chance to know the child before the "A" word is ever mentioned. The situation is safe and personal and gets results.

"Let the Spirit Move 'Em" Approach

It is crucially important to set up opportunities that get waiting children in the same time and space as waiting families. It is equally crucial to set up opportunities to get agency staff in the same time and space as potential adoptive families. The spirit of human beings sharing the same time and space can lead to magical things happening.

* Events Where Waiting Children and Families Meet: There are a variety of events that help waiting children and waiting families meet each other. We've tried annual holiday parties, fashion shows, poetry festivals, talent shows, and softball games. Many of our events have led to placements.

* Events for Staff to Share Time with Prospective Adoptive Parents: We recommend working at adoption fairs, conferences, and parent group meetings. At adoption fairs, you can help families learn about children in need of homes. Conferences put you in one-to-one contact with people who might want to adopt. Finally, adoptive and foster parent support groups are usually pleased to hear from agency personnel and will give you greater than your fair share of attention. These groups can be a great source of referrals.

In addition to these innovative ideas, we use the media, the yellow pages, and other traditional sources to find interested families. Most importantly, we ensure that everyone on staff views what they do as potential recruitment. This includes answering the phone (please have a human voice), interacting with postal carriers, and greeting people. Everyone must believe that they can find families for waiting teens and pre-teens.