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November 2024Vol. 25, No. 9Spotlight on National Adoption Month

This issue of CBX features National Adoption Month and the importance of honoring youth's experiences and perspectives as they navigate the adoption process. Read a message from Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston about how professionals can help youth cultivate lasting connections on the path to permanency. This issue also includes valuable resources for professionals and the families they serve.

Issue Spotlight

  • Cultivating Connections: A Message From Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston

    Cultivating Connections: A Message From Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston

    Written by Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston

    Each November, we celebrate National Adoption Month by raising awareness of the many children in foster care awaiting loving, permanent homes. This month is also a time to celebrate the professionals who support these young people on their paths to permanency and the families who provide loving, lasting bonds. The theme for this year's National Adoption Month is all about those connections: "Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds."

    Connections are crucial on the path to permanency. They can help youth stay linked to their cultures and traditions, nurture a sense of belonging, and provide guidance as youth mature into adulthood. For many young people, having someone they trust can buffer the effects of trauma. When we think about connection, we should view it through the lens of a kin-first culture and promote young people's relationships with relatives, their communities, and those who share their racial and ethnic identities. These include parents, grandparents, siblings, friends who feel like family, mentors, and peers. Connections should not be limited to legal permanency only; for many young people, relational permanency—lifelong connections with supportive adults—can be just as important.

    Within a kin-first culture, nurturing youths' connections also means supporting their supporters. We know that many families' challenges stem from unmet needs. To help them be there for the young people in their lives, we must address the root causes of their challenges. We can holistically support the whole family unit by improving equitable access to economic and concrete supports, combatting disparities and disproportionality driven by discrimination and systemic racism, removing barriers for kin caregivers, and partnering with community-based services and programs. These efforts can promote family preservation, permanency, and stability.

    In our pursuit of lasting bonds, we must not forget that professionals can be an important source of connection for young people involved with child welfare. During our National Adoption Month webinar in September, we learned from youth with lived experience that the relationship with their caseworker is sometimes one of the strongest relationships a young person has. By showing up and believing in a young person, we can help them learn to trust and rely on others. We can be the person who listens, who celebrates accomplishments, and who asks questions like "What does permanency look like for you?" or "What goals would you like to achieve?" Caseworkers can also help youth nurture or identify connections that can offer lifelong support and could even become permanency options. Demonstrating love, consistency, and support can prepare youth to build caring and reliable support networks. We should treat it as one of our most important jobs.

    I encourage you to explore the resources on the National Adoption Month webpage to learn more about how we can support youth on their journey to permanency, including key statistics, stories from youth and adoptive families, and an outreach toolkit to raise awareness. The webpage includes links to helpful tip sheets, webinars, discussion guides, and more to inform your work supporting young people and their families. Join me this month and throughout the year as we elevate efforts to holistically support all children and families.

  • November Is National Adoption Month

    November Is National Adoption Month

    The 2024 National Adoption Month campaign website has launched on Child Welfare Information Gateway. This year's theme, "Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds," emphasizes the importance of uplifting and genuinely listening to the voices of children and youth who are adopted and helping them create lasting connections that embrace and affirm their identity and background. Nearly 109,000 children were waiting to be adopted in 2022, and the average time in care for all children waiting to be adopted was almost 3 years. Of children waiting to be adopted, Black or African American, multiracial, and American Indian/Alaska Native children were overrepresented. Historically, families of color often have challenging relationships with the child welfare system, which include distrust and lost connections to heritage.

    This year's theme highlights the need to honor the experiences and perspectives of youth as they navigate the adoption process. The campaign encourages professionals and families to focus on building supportive, enduring relationships. These connections are vital for helping children feel valued and understood throughout their journey toward a permanent home—and after. Lasting, permanent relationships with families of origin, fictive kin, and communities directly affect well-being and contribute to positive outcomes for all adoption triad members.

    The campaign also emphasizes the importance of finding adoptive families for older youth, who often face significant challenges in achieving permanency. Research indicates that youth who age out of foster care without a stable family are at greater risk for adverse outcomes, including homelessness and mental health issues. Child welfare agencies and advocates can play a crucial role in improving these outcomes by fostering lasting bonds.

    The National Adoption Month website offers resources designed to support child welfare professionals, advocates, and prospective adoptive families. Available materials include a toolkit for community outreach, social media graphics, and templates that can be used to raise awareness. The site also features firsthand stories from youth who have experienced adoption. These stories offer insight into their journeys, the critical need for truly listening to youth and family voices, and the impact of solid and permanent bonds.

    For more information and to access resources to support adoption efforts, visit the 2024 National Adoption Month website.

  • What Do Adult Adoptees Think About Adoption?

    What Do Adult Adoptees Think About Adoption?

    The National Council for Adoption recently released a report, Profiles in Adoption: Adult Adoptee Experiences, based on a large-scale survey of 1,247 adults who were adopted. The report sheds light on the experiences and perspectives of adoptees in the United States, offering vital insights for professionals and adoptive families alike.

    The report explores adoptees' advice to future adoptive parents, with many respondents emphasizing the importance of open, honest communication. Adoptees share that transparency about their adoption from an early age fosters trust and strengthens a child's sense of belonging. Another common theme is the importance of supporting adoptees' connections to their birth families, where appropriate, and allowing space for adoptees to process their complex emotions.

    Additionally, the report delves into what adoptees wished their parents had done differently. A recurring theme is the desire for more emotional openness and sensitivity to the unique challenges faced by people who were adopted. Some respondents note their parents struggled to fully understand the complexities of adoption, including feelings of loss or curiosity about biological families. Adoptees also call for adoptive parents to seek out resources, such as counseling or support groups, to better navigate these challenges.

    This research highlights the need for professionals to encourage adoptive parents to engage in adoption education and seek out supportive communities. Adoption professionals can use this information to better prepare families for challenges that may arise.

    For a deeper discussion of the report's findings, listen to the August 2024 episode "What Do Adoptees Think About Adoption?" of the Creating a Family: Talk About Adoption & Foster Care podcast. The episode, which features the National Council for Adoption's President and CEO Ryan Hanlon and Director of Research Nicole Davi, explores adoptee perspectives and provides actionable advice for adoptive families.

  • Updated State-by-State Resources Help Families Understand Permanency Options

    Updated State-by-State Resources Help Families Understand Permanency Options

    Kinship foster families who are thinking about taking the next steps to legal permanency have many options to consider and decisions to make for their child and family’s well-being. These include selecting the most appropriate permanency option based on the child’s unique situation, family preferences, and available resources. Because adoption and guardianship laws are developed and implemented at the state, tribal, and local levels, it’s important that families understand what the paths to permanency look like in their specific locality so they can make the best-informed decision.

    Generations United’s newly updated state-specific comparison charts provide important details about what adoption looks like in all 50 states and the District of Columbia as compared to guardianship. Kinship foster families can use their state’s comparison chart to help guide their permanency decisions and learn how their locality addresses the following:

    • Rights and responsibilities
    • Financial and legal assistance
    • Public benefits
    • Health insurance
    • Federal and state tax credits
    • Caregiver successor planning and death benefits for children
    • College and independent living

    The charts present information about each state’s adoption and guardianship options in a question-and-answer format to walk users through some of the intricacies of the decision-making thought process. All those involved in a permanency decision—including relative caregivers, older children, birth parents, and caseworkers—can review these important details to better understand each option.

    The state-specific charts are part of a suite of Generations United resources focused on permanency options for children in kinship care. These resources include a national comparison chart offering a broad national overview of the paths to adoption and guardianship and a brief that provides comprehensive information about permanency options, outlines key differences between these options, and highlights trends in state laws that affect families navigating the foster care system.

    Find the chart for your locality and access the complete suite of resources on the Generations United website.

    Related item: Learn more about the brief in the November 2023 issue of CBX.

  • New Report Emphasizes Importance of Postpermanency Services

    New Report Emphasizes Importance of Postpermanency Services

    A recent report from the National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support, Post-Permanency Services: A Worthwhile Investment, emphasizes how critical postpermanency services are in promoting child well-being and long-term permanency for adoptive and guardianship families. The publication highlights key research findings on the challenges these families face and how tailored services can provide stability, improve child outcomes, and enhance family functioning.

    Adoptive and guardianship families often encounter unique challenges that differ from those of other families. Research shows that children who are adopted, especially those with experience in foster care or institutional settings, frequently have histories of trauma, adversity, and inconsistent caregiving. As a result, families may need ongoing support to navigate emotional and behavioral challenges. The report highlights that nearly 40 percent of adopted children have special health-care needs, and adoptive and guardianship families are three times more likely to require clinical support compared to families formed through birth.

    Postpermanency services, including mental health care, educational support, and caregiver support groups, can improve family well-being. These services help reduce behavior challenges, prevent placement disruptions, and enhance family cohesion. Families with access to such support report fewer disruptions, higher levels of family functioning, and more positive outcomes for children.

    Additionally, the report underscores the role of postpermanency services in supporting recruitment efforts. Prospective adoptive and guardianship families are more likely to move forward with placements when they know they will have access to needed support after finalization. The availability of services can help alleviate concerns that might otherwise prevent families from adopting children from foster care. 

    Investing in postpermanency services benefits children and families and reduces costs for child welfare systems by preventing placement disruptions and reentry into care. The report concludes that comprehensive, adoption-competent services are essential for promoting true permanency and stability for children in adoptive and guardianship placements.

News From the Children's Bureau

In this section, find the latest news, resources, and publications from the Administration for Children and Families, the Children's Bureau, and other offices within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as a listing of the latest additions to the Children's Bureau website.

Training & Technical Assistance Updates

This section features resources and updates from the Children's Bureau's technical assistance partners to support practices and systems that improve the lives of children and families.

Child Welfare Research

In this section, we highlight recent studies, literature reviews, and other research on child welfare topics.

  • Exploring Shifts in Young People's Racial and Ethnic Identities

    Exploring Shifts in Young People's Racial and Ethnic Identities

    A research brief from Child Trends explores how the racial and ethnic identities of adolescents and young adults may shift over time. Foster Care and the Development of Racial and Ethnic Identity delves into the experiences of young people in foster care whose racial and ethnic identities changed at some point in time. It also presents research on racial and ethnic identity development and factors that influence identity development. 

    The brief begins by acknowledging that adolescent years are formative for a young person's identity development. Several factors can influence one's racial and cultural identity, including racial socialization—the process of receiving and internalizing messages about racial identity and heritage. Youth in foster care may have unique or complicated experiences developing their racial and ethnic identity because of their child welfare system involvement. They may live in foster or adoptive homes with caregivers of different races and ethnicities, they may be unaware of their heritage or learn about it at an older age, and they may not spend time with those who share their racial and ethnic background.

    Recognizing the unique factors that influence the racial and ethnic identity development of youth in foster care, researchers interviewed 29 young people who experienced foster care and a racial or ethnic identity change. These include changes from monoracial to biracial, from biracial to monoracial, from monoracial to a more specific identity (for example, from broadly Hispanic or Latino to Mexican American), and more. Interviewees reported the following four influences for their racial and ethnic identity changes:

    • The child welfare system (79 percent)
    • Family (45 percent)
    • School (45 percent)
    • Employment practices (21 percent)

    The most frequently reported reasons for the change include the following:

    • They were responding to existing societal biases (48 percent).
    • They had learned new information about their family of origin (38 percent).
    • They had experienced a stronger sense of identity with a particular racial and ethnic group (24 percent).

    The young people shared how the child welfare system, including their placements and caseworkers, played a role in their identity development and sense of belonging. They were also asked to share their experiences after choosing to shift their racial or ethnic identity, which many acknowledged they were still processing.

    The brief concludes with practice and research implications, including how both practitioners and researchers can better apply an equity lens to their work and recognize that racial and ethnic identities can be fluid, especially among youth who might have limited knowledge of their heritage.

    For more information, including quotes from the study participants, explore the brief on the Child Trends website.

  • Evaluation of National Initiative to Improve Educational and Work Outcomes for Systems-Involved Young People

    Evaluation of National Initiative to Improve Educational and Work Outcomes for Systems-Involved Young People

    Youth who are involved with child welfare, juvenile justice, and related systems may not receive the same support as their peers in pursuing education and career opportunities. The national Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) initiative from the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) works to provide that support for youth and young adults ages 14 to 25 who have experienced foster care, the juvenile justice system, or homelessness by building and expanding pathways to education and employment.

    AECF published an evaluation of the initiative in June 2024. The evaluation was conducted in partnership with Equal Measure and is based on surveys from leaders at six LEAP partnerships and interviews with five LEAP national partners. The partnerships include family-serving organizations such as Covenant House Alaska, a service provider for youth who have run away or are experiencing homelessness in Alaska, and the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, a Los Angeles-based corporation that provides workforce development programming and housing for young people. The LEAP national partners are organizations that provide technical assistance and expertise to the LEAP partnerships.

    The evaluation outlines the six strategies for systems change that LEAP partnerships are implementing:

    • Taking a holistic approach
    • Supporting youth leadership
    • Partnering across public and other systems
    • Advocating and implementing policy change
    • Sharing learnings
    • Scaling

    According to the evaluation, the primary strategy being implemented is taking a holistic approach. LEAP partners embrace this approach by considering the whole person and their surroundings, including root causes of disconnection and societal barriers to education and career pathways. The evaluation outlines the following three concrete examples of holistic approaches by LEAP partnerships:

    • Creating "one-stop shops" where young people can access multiple services
    • Providing one-to-one case management, mentoring, and navigation for youth involved with multiple systems
    • Providing or connecting youth with concrete supports including food, clothing, health services, and housing

    Cross-sector partnerships are an important element of a holistic approach, as one organization may be able to provide services or supports that another is not able to provide. Another important aspect of a holistic approach is youth engagement—specifically, listening to young people and supporting youth leadership. This places youths' voices at the forefront of efforts to improve education and career access at the individual level, as well as the policy and program improvement level. 

    Explore the report, Centering a Holistic Approach to Expand Education and Employment Pathways for Systems-Involved Young People, for more information about how the LEAP initiative is holistically supporting youth.

  • Sociodemographic Characteristics of LGBTQ Parents in the United States

    Sociodemographic Characteristics of LGBTQ Parents in the United States

    Much of the existing research on parenting benefits, challenges, and demographics is focused on cisgender, heterosexual parents. A new report expands this research by compiling data from various sources to provide a sociodemographic portrait of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ) parents in the United States.

    In the report, LGBTQ Parenting in the US, the term "parent" includes any biological, adoptive, or foster parent or stepparent of a child younger than age 18 who is living in the same household. The report includes data on demographics, marriage and relationship status, economics, and family formation and stressors. The following are some of the main findings:

    • 18 percent of LGBTQ adults are parenting children.
    • 35 percent of married LGBTQ adults are parenting children.
    • 75 percent of LGBTQ parents are cisgender bisexual women (61 percent) and lesbian women (14 percent).
    • Approximately 5 million children are being raised by LGBTQ adults.
    • Regardless of age, LGBTQ adults are less likely to be parenting than non-LGBTQ adults.
    • LGBTQ parents are more likely to be living in poverty than LGBTQ non-parents and straight cisgender parents.
    • 78 percent of LGBTQ parents became parents through current or previous sexual relationships, 20 percent as stepparents, and 6 percent through adoption.
    • Approximately 30 percent of LGBTQ parents are not legally recognized or are unsure of their legal status as parents.

    A discussion of the findings highlights policy implications. Lower rates of parenting among LGBTQ adults compared to non-LGBTQ adults may be a result of a lack of access to opportunities and resources to become parents. This suggests there is a need to address barriers to accessing reproductive technology and adoption services. Economic instability points to the need for policies and services that address economic inequities. There is also a need to recognize parental rights among LGBTQ parents, especially for those in same-sex couples who are not biologically related to their children.

    Explore the full report for more information about the demographics and characteristics of LGBTQ parents as well as policy and research implications.

Strategies and Tools for Practice

This section of CBX offers publications, articles, reports, toolkits, and other resources that provide evidence-based strategies or other concrete help to child welfare and related professionals.

  • Strategies to Support Pregnant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care

    Strategies to Support Pregnant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care

    Youth in foster care who are expecting or parenting face the compounded challenges of navigating foster care while also navigating a pregnancy or parenthood. Caseworkers and other professionals who support these youth must be prepared to meet their complex needs. A new brief from Casey Family Programs, What Strategies Support Pregnant and Parenting Teens in Foster Care?, explores how to best support this population.  

    The challenges that pregnant and parenting teens in foster care face include lower educational attainment, mental health challenges, unemployment, homelessness, multiple placements, trauma, and limited knowledge of parenting skills and child development. They may also experience barriers to receiving effective and equitable services due to insufficient data, insufficient sex education, stigmas and stereotypes, and limited placement options. Youth engagement and equal partnership are important steps to overcoming these nuanced challenges and barriers. The brief addresses some off the things caseworkers and professionals should consider when working with expectant and parenting teens:

    • Support their dual realities by addressing their needs as young people while respecting them as parents and emerging adults.
    • Recognize their diverse identities and discern potential strengths and barriers resulting from intersecting identities, including race, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, and immigration status.
    • Center young people's voices and choices related to parenting, placements, and needed supports.
    • Ensure youth understand their parental rights.
    • Improve two-generational outcomes.
    • Provide unbiased guidance and support.

    The brief provides information about what makes an effective program for teen parents and their children, such as focusing on healthy development for both the teen parent and the child and promoting strong parent-child relationships. It also offers examples of programs that achieve these goals, such as the Florence Crittenton Services resource center in Denver, CO, and St. Anne’s Family Services in Los Angeles, CA. 

    For more information on expectant and parenting youth in foster care, explore Child Welfare Information Gateway's bulletin for professionals Improving Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Care and factsheet for families Expecting and Parenting in Care: Tips for Youth—both also available in Spanish.

  • Tool Assesses Relational Culture in Organizations

    Tool Assesses Relational Culture in Organizations

    Organizations with healthy relational cultures promote relationship-building with young people so they have the nurturing, support, and guidance they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Relational cultures are embedded in the core mindsets, skills, practices, and supporting structures present at all levels of an organization. Relationship-rich organizations are intentional about building relationships, inclusive of all youth, and equitable in meeting youths' needs.

    Search Institute's Relational Culture Checkup is a self-reflection tool designed to help leaders and staff assess the relational culture of their organization. Based on Search Institute's Rooted in Relationships Model, the tool guides users through two components of relational culture:

    • Relational climate: the social atmosphere of a particular setting, including its intentionality, inclusiveness, and equitability
    • Supporting structures: the infrastructure and tangible inputs required to prioritize developmental relationships, including data use, resource allocation, and hiring practices

    The online tool can be completed by individuals or groups. Relational Culture Checkup: A Group Guide provides considerations and directions for those who choose to take the assessment as a group. It outlines the roles of group members, an agenda, and conversation questions to facilitate the process.  

    Note that the check-up was designed as a tool for self-reflection and conversation, not compliance, rating, or performance.

    Related item: More information about the benefits of developmental relationships with supportive adults is available in the CBX article "Examining the Importance of Developmental Relationships for Young People."

Resources

In this section, we present interesting resources, such as websites, videos, journals, funding or scholarship opportunities, or other materials, that can be used in the field or with families.

  • Families Find Healing Through Reading

    Families Find Healing Through Reading

    A recent article featured on the AdoptUSKids Blog discusses the benefits of bibliotherapy—the use of books and reading as medicine. The author presents insights from staff at the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center library who have witnessed first-hand the healing power of books among children, youth, and families, especially those touched by foster care and adoption.

    Books can create opportunities for comfort, healing, and understanding, particularly when they represent the varied life experiences and needs of their readers. For example, parents and caregivers can use stories and their descriptive language and imagery to help articulate difficult and/or complex topics, like trauma and attachment, to children.

    The article emphasizes the therapeutic value of books that elevate lived experience, diverse perspectives and identities, and cultural connectedness. Visit the AdoptUSKids website to learn more and view a list of recommended reading for younger children, older youth, and families who have experienced child welfare system involvement.

  • Protecting Children From Environmental Risks

    Protecting Children From Environmental Risks

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently updated its webpage What You Can Do to Protect Children from Environmental Risks. The information, intended for parents and all individuals who care for children, is provided in short, bulleted lists of digestible tips and guidance and spans a variety of topics such as air quality, biting insects, noise pollution, pesticides and chemicals, storms and floods, sun and heat exposure, and more. Supplemental resources are hyperlinked throughout. Learn about keeping children and families safe in their environments on the EPA website.

Training and Conferences

Find trainings, workshops, webinars, and other opportunities for professionals and families to learn about how to improve the lives of children and youth as well as a listing of upcoming events and conferences.

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