Podcasts about adoptable children

Are you hoping to adopt from foster care. Don't miss this discussion of adoption subsidies with Josh Kroll, Project Coordinator for the Adoption Subsidy Resource Center at Families Rising (formerly known as the North American Council on Adoptable Children).In this episode, we cover:What are adoption subsidies?What other names are used for “adoption subsidies”? Adoption Agreements, Adoption Assistance, AAP, monthly stipend. Is there a difference between these?Who is eligible for foster care adoption subsidies?Are private adoptions eligible for adoption subsidies? What if the private adoption is of a child with special needs?Supplemental Security Income (SSI).Is there an income limit for receiving an adoption subsidy?How is the dollar amount of the subsidy determined, and by whom?Can kinship providers receive foster care adoption subsidies?What other things can be included in an adoption subsidy agreement other than a monetary monthly stipend?Does the money have to be spent directly and solely on the foster child, or can it be used to benefit the whole family or the foster child only tangentially—such as adding a bedroom so that kids don't have to share or a family vacation?What about situations where the child is either too young to be displaying needs or is not displaying needs, but the parents have reason to believe that the child will have needs as they age? How can they negotiate for future needs?How to handle adoption subsidies when you are adopting an infant with prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs?What other type of things might be included in adoption assistance? College tuition assistance/grant/tuition waiver?How is residential treatment covered?What if you face a difficult negotiation? How can people get information about what particular states usually grant for adoption subsidies? https://nacac.org/help/adoption-assistance/How are adoption assistance/adoption subsidies handled if I'm adopting a foster child from another state?What should adoptive parents do if they believe that the adoption subsidy that is being offered is not enough?Resources:Families Rising  (formerly NACAC) Josh Kroll contact info:800-470-6665  ext 115joshk@nacac.orgNdrn.orgThis podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Join us for a beautiful conversation with adoptee mother, Astrid Castro and daughter, Maya Papaya Castro Dabbeni. They generously share about their tremendous love and bond, and shed light on how intergenerational trauma and painful legacies of adoption have affected their relationship, perspectives, and behaviors. We also discuss the importance of mirroring and how unique it is for adoptees and children of adoptees; their unique birth family reunion story; birth language acquisition within adoptee families; creating adoption fluency; and moving from isolation as adoptees into community together with our children.    https://www.adoptionmosaic.com/Astrid Castro BioAstrid  Castro (she/her/hers) is the founder and CEO of  Adoption  Mosaic. Adoption Mosaic is a BIPOC adoptee, woman-led business that seeks to build an inviting adoption conscious community by providing innovative adoptee-centered programs and support.Including a monthly virtual panel series called We the Experts: Adoptee Speaker Series. Astrid has a degree in sociology with an emphasis in adoption. For twenty plus years, she has traveled the country to lead youth groups, present workshops on  transracial parenting, talking with children about adoption, and various other workshops focusing on adoption. Prior to creating Adoption Mosaic, Astrid worked in both the private and public sectors of various adoption organizations such as the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC), Holt International and Rocky Mountain Adoption Exchange.Astrid co-authored Adoption in the Movies, which takes the reader on a guided tour of 27 movies and documentaries that are ‘dripping with adoption' which are asking  questions that encourage viewers to engage in ongoing dialogue and discussion. She also developed an innovative, evidence-based, 27-minute training DVD titled, Adoptive Parent Training:Developing Communication Skills. The training demonstrates how adoptive parents can communicate openly and honestly with family, friends and especially children. Astrid is a former member of the board of directors of the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the author of many articles on the subject of adoption and contributed a chapter to the book Parenting as Adoptees. Astrid's personal experiences as an adoptee, a woman of color, and growing up in  a white family and community, fuel her professional path to helping others. Astrid  is aware of the benefit  of post-adoption services for individuals and their families  and seeks to bring these services to the adoption community. Her life-long interest  in adoption is rooted in her own adoption at the age of four from Colombia (along  with her older sister). Astrid has been in reunion with her birth family in Colombia since December 2011. Read about Astrid's journey of searching and finding her birth mother in The Oregonian. When Astrid is not working she loves to spend time with family, friends and  enjoying the adventures of life as the mama of an amazing daughter.Maya Papaya Castro Dabbeni BioMaya has grown up hearing and talking about adoption as a child of an adoptee. She is biracial, Colombian and Italian, as well as trilingual, Italian, Spanish and English. At a young age, Maya was a driving force in finding her maternal birth family. To this day, she is still uncovering connections to her Colombian roots, in addition to exploring how generational trauma and epigenetics affect children of adoptees. Maya is excited to share her experience of being a "child of an adoptee" and to bring this topic to light. Maya is currently a third year student at San Jose State University majoring in International Business with a double minor in Spanish and Italian.Co-Hosts: Nari Baker & Robyn ParkMusic: Mike Marlatt & Paul GulledgeEditing: Federico aka mixinghacksArtwork: Dalhe KimListen on: iTunes & SpotifyInstagram: @laboroflovepodcastVenmo: @laboroflovepodcast

Here's part 2 of my conversation with Maris Blechner. If you haven't listened to part 1 yet, hit pause and go back and listen to the first part of our conversation. In this conversation we dig deeper into the adoption experience, about the impact on the child and the family and the things adoptive parents can do to support this important and life changing transition.Maris Blechner is an adoptive and birth parent, a licensed clinical social worker and educator, and an internationally respected trainer and speaker who has spent the last thirty-nine years working for the improvement of the lives of children in the child welfare system. One of the founders of the parent-led multi-service adoption agency that she directed for twenty-six years, Maris relates proudly that she comes from the citizen-activist child-advocacy community and brings that neighborhood and personal family experience to her professional work. These days she has enjoyed mentoring, doing specialized consulting and training, and teaching at her own school, the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She has been featured as a storyteller (about adoption) on the Moth Radio Hour, on NPR and podcasts, and even on the BBC, and has a chapter in It's Not About You: Understanding Adoptee Search, Reunion & Open Adoption, 2016.The NYS Adoptive Parents Committee: www.adoptiveparents.org.To learn more about adoption, please check out the following links:Adoption and Foster Family Care of New York: https://affcny.orgThe North American Council on Adoptable Children: https://nacac.orgFamily Focus Adoption Services: familyfocusadoption.orgAdoption Learning Partners:Resources Maris mentioned in the episode:HOLT InternationalThe Primal WoundMaris Blechner (the MOTH appearance)To learn more about Robert Maggio, the composer of our theme music, please check out his website.To learn more about Suzanne, visit her website. To learn more about the inspiration for this podcast, please check out Suzanne's memoir, Estrellas - Moments of Illumination Along El Camino de SantiagoFollow Suzanne on Social Media Instagram @mamasuzanne Facebook @ Suzanne Maggio author Twitter @ bottomofninth

Today on the podcast we're taking a field trip to the online classroom of Maris Blechner, a social worker, educator and expert in the field of adoption. So pack up your notebooks, sharpen your pencils and get prepared to learn at the feet of a master.  This episode is so rich I didn't want it to end. There's so much to think about here that I decided to split it into two episodes. Be sure to come back next week for the second part.This conversation was one of those where I could literally feel the synapses in my brain firing. I thought I understood adoption, I mean, I'm a social worker after all so it's not like this is my first rodeo, but this conversation gave me a new understanding, a deepening and richness to the nuances of chosen families that I am so grateful for.  What happens when a family adopts a child?  What is it like to accept the “wrapped present” and watch it begin to slowly show itself to us?  What are the challenges with identity formation between the adoptive family and child? And what about the hundreds of thousands of children foster care system? Children who desperately need a home? Perhaps the biggest learning for me was around the topic of loss.  “Adoption begins with loss,” Maris reminds us. A foundation of loss that never goes away. I was so struck by this reminder. Of the need to verbalize that loss, to bring it out into the open and give the child a language to talk about an experience that brought them to this moment. The notion that without loss the new family would never have formed. In a world that favors brevity and quick fixes, this conversation reminds us of the richness in the complexity of life, the “stepping stones” as Maris puts it, that without which there would be no story.Maris Blechner is an adoptive and birth parent, a licensed clinical social worker and educator, and an internationally respected trainer and speaker who has spent the last thirty-nine years working for the improvement of the lives of children in the child welfare system. One of the founders of the parent-led multi-service adoption agency that she directed for twenty-six years, Maris relates proudly that she comes from the citizen-activist child-advocacy community and brings that neighborhood and personal family experience to her professional work. These days she has enjoyed mentoring, doing specialized consulting and training, and teaching at her own school, the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She has been featured as a storyteller (about adoption) on the Moth Radio Hour, on NPR and podcasts, and even on the BBC, and has a chapter in It's Not About You: Understanding Adoptee Search, Reunion & Open Adoption, 2016.The NYS Adoptive Parents Committee: www.adoptiveparents.org.To learn more about adoption, please check out the following links:Adoption and Foster Family Care of New York: https://affcny.orgThe North American Council on Adoptable Children: https://nacac.orgFamily Focus Adoption Services: familyfocusadoption.orgAdoption Learning Partners: To learn more about Robert Maggio, the composer of our theme music, please check out his website.To learn more about Suzanne, visit her website. To learn more about the inspiration for this podcast, please check out Suzanne's memoir, Estrellas - Moments of Illumination Along El Camino de SantiagoFollow Suzanne on Social Media Instagram @mamasuzanne Facebook @ Suzanne Maggio author Twitter @ bottomofninth

For more than 30 years, Rita Soronen has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children, providing leadership for local, state and national efforts, working to improve the juvenile justice and child welfare systems while striving to assure safe and permanent homes for North America's children.Leading the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity, since 2001 and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada since 2004, Ms. Soronen works to find permanent families for the more than 135,000 waiting children in North America's foster care systems. Under her leadership, the Foundation has significantly increased its grant-making while developing strategic initiatives that act on the urgency of the issue. In 2021, the Foundation dedicated more than $40.9 million to grants and award-winning programs, such as Wendy's Wonderful Kids®, Adoption-Friendly Workplace™ and National Adoption Day. Additionally, through public service announcements, social media campaigns, articles, events, sponsorships and more, the Foundation is building awareness around the growing need for foster care adoption.Under Ms. Soronen's leadership, the Foundation created Wendy's Wonderful Kids in 2004 with seven pilot sites as a platform to engage more partners to transform failing child welfare practices and, most importantly, to aggressively find the right families for children waiting much too long to be adopted. In 2011, a rigorous, five-year national evaluation by Washington, D.C.-based Child Trends revealed that a child referred to the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program is up to three times more likely to be adopted. In 2017, with the support of the Blue Meridian Partners, the Foundation launched an aggressive, multi-year business plan to take Wendy's Wonderful Kids to scale in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. With support from the Foundation's partners and generous donors, more than 500 Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruiters have helped to find forever families for more than 12,000 children in foster care and counting across the U.S. and Canada.Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Soronen served as the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Franklin County. During that time, she also served as the president of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio CASA/GAL Association and led the passage of specialty license plate legislation benefiting CASA programs throughout Ohio, as well as the design and implementation of model program standards assuring the consistent application of effective advocacy for children involved in court proceedings at the local and state levels.Ms. Soronen is a nationally recognized child welfare advocate. She has testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth on the importance of foster care adoption. A requested national speaker on the topics of children, the child welfare system and social innovation, Ms. Soronen has been a featured presenter at events for the Center for Adoption Support and Education, Children Need Amazing Parents, National Association of County Commissioners, the National Council for Adoption, North American Council on Adoptable Children, the Philanthropy Roundtable and at While House adoption events, among others. Ms. Soronen is a founding board member and past vice president of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and is a current member of the advisory board. She also serves as a member of Barco's Nightingales Foundation's advisory board and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children's board of trustees.Ms. Soronen is a founding board member and past vice president of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and is a current member of the advisory board. She also serves as a member of Barco's Nightingales Foundation's advisory board and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children's board of trustees. Ms. Soronen is a recipient of the Angels in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, the National CASA Association Kappa Alpha Theta Program Director of the Year Award, the Ohio CASA/GAL Association Statewide Leadership Award and was a 2013 recipient of WSNY's 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know. She is a fellow of the Jefferson Fellowship for Executive Leadership; was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Community Leadership from Franklin University in 2016; was named a YWCA Woman of Achievement in 2017; was named a National Number One by the Columbus Foundation in 2018; and was honored with Smart Business Network's 2019 Smart 50 Program Award for Impact, Giving Back to the Community.A graduate of the University of Louisville, Ms. Soronen resides in Columbus, Ohio.Ms. Soronen is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council and shares insights regularly through articles with fellow council members. Read Ms. Soronen's latest articles.The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is the only public nonprofit charity in the United States that is focused exclusively on foster care adoption. Through its signature program, Wendy's Wonderful Kids®, the Foundation funds adoption professionals, known as recruiters, who are dedicated to finding loving, permanent homes for children waiting in foster care.The Foundation works closely with child welfare advocates and policymakers, provides free resources about foster care adoption and raises awareness through social media campaigns, public service announcements and events.More at:https://www.facebook.com/DaveThomasFoundationforAdoptionhttps://twitter.com/DTFAhttps://www.instagram.com/dtfa/https://www.youtube.com/user/DaveThomasFoundationhttps://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

Jayne Amelia talks with amazing, astounding and ever persistent Gay Courter.Gay Courter is the author of 7 bestselling novels with over three million copies in print worldwide including The Midwife, The Midwife's Advice, Code Ezra, River of Dreams, Flowers in the Blood, and The Girl in the Box.  Her non-fiction works include The Beansprout Book and How To Survive Your Husband's Midlife Crisis, and I Speak for this Child: True Stories of a Child Advocate, which was nominated for a Pulitizer Priz for non-fiction.  She is also a distinguished travel writer.   www.gaycourter.com  Gay has served as a volunteer in the Florida Guardian Ad Litem program since 1989 in which she acts as the court appointed advocate for neglected and abused children.  Her book about her experiences, I Speak For This Child: True Stories of a Child Advocate, brought national attention to the cause.  She has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Day One, NBC Weekend Edition, and in Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitorand other national publications as an expert on these issues and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.  Gay has also received the Child Advocate of the Year award in Florida for her work as a Guardian Ad Litem, the Sharon Solomon Child Advocate Award from the Florida Center for Children and Youth, and special recognition from the Florida Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television, Inc. for her work on Where's My Chance? The Case for Our Children, which also won an Emmy.  Gay received her second Emmy from the National Academy of Arts and Television Sciences, Suncoast Chapter, for a series of public service announcements called Solutions for America's Children.  She has been selected as one of the 10 most admired women in Citrus County twice—in the community service and arts categories.In 2004, Gay, her husband, Philip, and daughter, Ashley, jointly won the Angels in Adoption from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and nominated by Congresswoman, Ginny Brown-Waite.  Gay is married to her collaborator in documentary films, Philip Courter.  They have produced almost hundred films on child welfare topics and specialize in media about children's issues and strengthening family.  Clients include National CASA, the National Council of Family and Juvenile Judges, the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and the North American Council on Adoptable Children.  The Courters have two sons, Blake, a specialist in computer design development and engineer; and Joshua, an ethnographic filmmaker and builder/designer.  In 1998, they adopted Ashley, then age 12, who spent 9 years of her life in Florida's foster care system in 14 different homes.  Ashley's bestselling book about her experiences is called Three Little Words and is in development as a feature film.Together the Courters continue to work professionally and personally so that other children will not be lost in the system like their daughter was.For more information see gaycourter.com courterfilms.comNational CASA/GAL Association For Children

Astrid founded Adoption Mosaic. Here's a bit about her from their website:Astrid has a degree in sociology with an emphasis in adoption. For twenty plus years, she has traveled the country to lead youth groups, present workshops on transracial parenting, talking with children about adoption and various other workshops focusing on adoption. Prior to creating Adoption Mosaic, Astrid worked in both the private and public sectors of various adoption organizations such the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC), Holt International, Rocky Mountain Adoption Exchange, to name just a few.Astrid co-authored Adoption in the Movies, which takes the reader on a guided tour of 27 movies and documentaries that are ‘dripping with adoption' asking questions that encourage the viewer to engage in ongoing dialogue and discussion. She also developed an innovative, evidence-based, 27-minute training DVD titled, Adoptive Parent Training: Developing Communication Skills. The training demonstrates how adoptive parents can communicate openly and honestly with family, friends and especially children.Astrid is a former member of the board of directors of the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the author of many articles on the subject of adoption and contributed a chapter to the book Parents As Adoptees.Astrid's personal experiences as an adoptee, a woman of color, and growing up in a white family and community, fuel her professional path to helping others.Astrid is aware of the benefits of post-adoption services for individuals and their families and seeks to bring these services to the adoption community.Her life-long interest in adoption is rooted in her own adoption at the age of four from Colombia (along with her older sister). Astrid has been in reunion with her birth family in Colombia since December 2012. Read The Oregonian article on Astrid!When Astrid is not working she loves to spend time with family and friends and enjoys the adventures of life as the mama of an amazing teenage daughter.Adoption Mosaic provides a platform for compassionate, informed education, training and resources to the adoption constellation/community. In one way or another, we all have adoption in our lives. And regardless of what role we play or the resources we've been give, each of us deserves a healthy lifelong adoption experience.Here at Adoption Mosaic we focus on families and individuals by supporting them in making the most educated, informed and unbiased decision when it comes to their adoption needs. We provide space where the adoption constellation/community feel valued, heard, understood and accepted as a full member of society, family and community.Find out more at:https://adoptionmosaic.com/https://www.instagram.com/adoptionmosaic/https://www.facebook.com/AdoptionMosaic/

Liza and Kara cover SVU's “Blood Brothers” (Season 13, Episode 3), the background of the Arnold Schwarzenegger affair, and chat with the talented Judy Reyes.   SOURCES: LA Times - 1 LA Times - 2 NY Daily News Wikipedia Hello! The Sun Sydney Morning Harold    WHAT WOULD SISTER PEG DO: North American Council on Adoptable Children - https://nacac.org/   Next week's episode will be “Producer's Backend” (Season 16, Episode 3). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you planning on claiming the Adoption Tax Credit this year? We talk with Becky Wilmoth, an Enrolled Agent and Adoption Tax Credit Specialist with Bill's Tax Service and Josh Kroll, the Adoption Subsidy Resource Center coordinator at the North American Council on Adoptable Children.In this episode, we cover:What is the Adoption Tax Credit for adoption being claimed on 2021 federal taxes? $14,440 per childIt is a non-refundable tax credit. How to advocate for refundability?What is a “credit” and how does it differ from a deduction or some other form of tax savings?If you get a tax refund every year, how would you use the Adoption Tax Credit?If you don't have any federal tax liability, should you still apply the credit to your federal income taxes?What type of adoptions are included or excluded? Stepparent adoption? Embryo adoption? Same-sex partner second parent adoption? Unmarried heterosexual second parent adoption? Surrogacy?Can you get credit for each adoption you complete even if completed in the same year? What about adopting siblings at the same time?What is a Qualified Adoption Expense for purposes of the Adoption Tax Credit 2021?When can you claim the Adoption Tax Credit?Domestic private adoptionInternational AdoptionRe-adoption in the US for international adoptionFoster Care AdoptionHow does the Adoption Tax Credit work with kinship adoptions? What if the child never was involved with the foster care?Special Needs Adoption: How does the Adoption Tax Credit differ for adoptions from foster care? What does the IRS accept as proof of “special needs”?Special needs child for international adoption?Can you reclaim your expenses for a failed adoption? How?What income level is excluded from claiming the Adoption Tax Credit in 2021?How long can the credit be carried over?Will the Adoption Tax Credit offset self-employment tax? Secure Act and Qualified birth or adoption distributions.How does the Adoption Tax Credit work in conjunction with employee adoption benefits? For special needs adoption?If you adopt, can you still get the Child Tax Credit? How does the timing work?What do you need in order to get the Child Tax Credit for your adopted child? Social Security # for the child.How does Advanced Tax Payments work with adoption?What type of documentation for the Adoption Tax Credit should you submit with your taxes? What type of documentation should you keep in your records?What should you do if you do not have your child's social security number when you get ready to file your taxes? When should you consider using an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN #) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN #)?What are the most common questions received about the Adoption Tax Credit?How to find a tax specialist knowledgeable on the Adoption Tax Credit?This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPoSupport the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Pat joined the Coalition team in December 2016 as the Director of AGAPE in the Southern Tier/Finger Lakes region.  After three months he transferred to the Long Island Rockland Region to be the Director of AGAPE after AFFCNY was awarded an additional contract. He now serves as the Coalition's Executive Director. Pat is an adoptive dad.The former Founder and Executive Director of You Gotta Believe! The Older Child Adoption & Permanency Movement, Pat was also previously Board President of the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York.   Other work experience includes seven years directing another adoption agency's New York Regional program that placed older youth for adoption and working as a Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruiter in Connecticut where he found homes for a caseload of youth on the verge of aging out of the foster care system.  Pat also served as a consultant to Spaulding for Children's Federal cooperative grant with the Quality Improvement Center for Adoption and Permanency (AIC-AG).Pat currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of the North American Council on Adoptable Children as its Secretary.  He produced and hosted a radio broadcast called “The Adopting Teens and Tweens Radio forum” for 13 years on WGBB, Long Island's oldest radio station.  Pat also serves as a community board member of Brooklyn's Community Board 13 a position he was appointed to by the Brooklyn Borough President.  He is an honorary board member of Voices for Adoption, an organization which is the adoption advocacy arm in Washington DC.   Pat is also on the Advisory Board of Foster Families Today and the Treehouse Foundation.Pat has received numerous honors in his career for his work in adoption including The Angels in Adoption award by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, the Adoption Excellence Award from the US Department of Health & Human Service's Children's Bureau, and The Child Advocate of the Year award from the North American Council on Adoptable Children.Pat has his BA in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice where he graduated as his class's co-valedictorian.  He has his M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University.   Pat has a certificate in Adoption Therapy that he received from Hunter College in 2007 and he recently completed a course of study in the Training in Adoption Competency, an evidence based curriculum created by Center for Adoption Support & Education (C.A.S.E.)Pat is an adoptive father who lives in the Coney Island community of Brooklyn, New York.https://www.facebook.com/pat.obrienhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-o-brien-0071ab6/The Coalition unites foster, adoptive and kinship care families, giving them a voice and providing support, information and advocacy.  By fostering communication and collaboration between families, agencies and concerned citizens, we seek to ensure the stability, well-being and permanency of all children.No foster, adoptive or kinship care family in New York State will feel alone or unsupported and that all such families will have the tools, support and community they need to nurture their children and be role models for others. Goal:Educate and support foster/kinship care/adoptive parents and the professionals who serve them by utilizing information-sharing, services, peer support and referral.Improve services available to children and families.Increase citizen involvement in local service planning and delivery.Educate leaders and stakeholders about the realities, challenges and rewards of foster/kinship care/adoptive parenting.Advocate for greater support of foster/kinship care/adoptive families by federal, state and local agencies.To learn more, read our history, learn about our current programs, join us at an event and meet our team.https://affcny.orghttps://www.facebook.com/affcny/https://twitter.com/AFFCNYhttps://www.instagram.com/affcny/

Melanie Scheetz and her husband are proud adoptive parents of two children. Melanie has 29 years of non-profit management experience in the areas of administration and development. She joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition as its Executive Director in 1999. Under her guidance, the agency developed the groundbreaking programs, Extreme Recruitment® and 30 Days to Family®. Melanie has been honored with the St. Louis Business Journal's 50 Most Influential Business Women of 2019 award; North American Council on Adoptable Children's “National Adoption Advocate” award; the Congressional “Angels in Adoption” award; and the “Women of the Well” award.Connect with her athttps://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-scheetz-622118a/The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition strives to create permanency in foster children's lives by recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families in the metropolitan St. Louis region.Find out more athttps://www.foster-adopt.org/https://www.facebook.com/FosterAdopt/https://www.instagram.com/foster.adopt/

As Director of Adoption and Permanency Services, Erika is responsible for overseeing all functions of the full service Infant Adoption Program, State Wide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) program, and county foster care placement services. She is a Management Team member at The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center, maintains all financial aspects of the program and is involved in strategic planning. Erika also works directly with clients providing infertility and pre-adoption counseling sessions and running a monthly infertility support group.  Erika was integral in starting up the SWAN program and county foster care placement services at The Children's Home, beginning in 2012.  She also recently began expanding the program's Counseling Services, which now includes counseling for donor conceived individuals, recipient parents, and those using artificial reproductive technology to conceive. Erika also serves as a trainer for the REACH training collaborative, training prospective foster and adoptive families on topics such as Parenting, Resources, Grief and Loss, Child Development, and Cultural Humility.  She also trains families adopting through The Children's Home of Pittsburgh's infant adoption program on open adoption and has presented at seminars on open adoption and hospital adoption policy, as well as at SWAN statewide conferences.  Erika was also co-author to an article published for the North American Council on Adoptable Children's (NACAC) publication, Adoptalk, titled Innovative Family Preparation: Thinking Outside the Box for the Whole Family. Erika has been at The Children's Home since 2006, working as a birthparent counselor, birthparent counseling services supervisor, and manager of the SWAN Program.  Prior to her position at The Children's Home of Pittsburgh, Erika worked for over 4 years as a Psychiatric Specialty Counselor for an adolescent drug and alcohol research program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and remained on staff as a Behavioral Health Counselor, conducting diagnostic interviews and performing program management duties on a casual basis until May of 2018. She earned both a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Master's Degree in Social Work through The University of Pittsburgh and obtained her social work license in 2006.Here's a bit about the Home from their websiteAt The Children's Home & Lemieux Family Center, we're investing in a family today to secure a child's tomorrow.Our goal is to make sure every person who walks through our doors feels empowered whether it be to take care of their medically fragile child, or to make a life changing decision. We're here to support the community; our family.Find out more at:https://www.childrenshomepgh.org/https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensHomePghhttps://twitter.com/ChildrensHomehttps://www.youtube.com/user/Chomepghhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-children%27s-home-of-pittsburgh-&-lemieux-family-center/https://www.instagram.com/childrenshomepgh/

On Season 2, Episode 5 of the Adoptee Thoughts Podcast, Astrid Castro, and host, Melissa Guida-Richards discuss Astrid's work in the adoption community, reunion, as well as the nuances of learning our language from our birth culture.    About Astrid Castro:   Astrid has a degree in sociology with an emphasis in adoption. For twenty plus years, she has traveled the country to lead youth groups, present workshops on transracial parenting, talking with children about adoption and various other workshops focusing on adoption. Prior to creating Adoption Mosaic, Astrid worked in both the private and public sectors of various adoption organizations such the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC), Holt International, Rocky Mountain Adoption Exchange, to name just a few.   Astrid co-authored Adoption in the Movies, which takes the reader on a guided tour of 27 movies and documentaries that are ‘dripping with adoption' asking questions that encourage the viewer to engage in ongoing dialogue and discussion. She also developed an innovative, evidence-based, 27-minute training DVD titled, Adoptive Parent Training: Developing Communication Skills. The training demonstrates how adoptive parents can communicate openly and honestly with family, friends and especially children.   Astrid is a former member of the board of directors of the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the author of many articles on the subject of adoption and contributed a chapter to the book Parents As Adoptees.   Website: https://adoptionmosaic.com/     Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/adoptionmosaic/       _________   To read more of the work by your host Melissa Guida-Richards, check out guida-richards.com, or the podcast's website adopteethoughts.com.   Her book is now available for preorder and in stores on October 5th!

Jennifer Perry has been Executive Director of the Children's Action Network (CAN) since its inception. By marshalling the immense communications power of the entertainment community, CAN inspires the public to take action on behalf of children. CAN is now involved in a national campaign devoted to raising awareness about the 107,000 children in this country waiting for adoptive homes and improving outcomes for the more than 400,000 children in foster care. Jennifer is a co-founder of FosterMore, a coalition of media and entertainment companies, non-profits, businesses and philanthropic organizations working to create greater understanding, empathy, and action to improve the future of youth in foster care. FosterMore shines a light on the accomplishments and potential of foster youth, while securing support for their academic success and creating a pipeline of potential foster parents. Jennifer is a recipient of the Nancy Daly Advocacy Award from the Lewis Hine Awards for Service to Children and Youth, Raise A Child Honors and the Evan B. Donaldson Spotlight Award. Under her stewardship, CAN has received an Adoption Excellence Award from the US Department of Health and Human Services and a Television Academy Honors for A Home for the Holidays, CAN's annual special promoting foster care adoption and been recognized as a CCAI Angels in Adoption. Jennifer is on the Board of Governors for the California Community Colleges as well as the board of the Foundation for California Community Colleges and serves on the board of the Children's Law Center. She has served as a board member of the North American Council on Adoptable Children, an Advisor to National Center for Children in Poverty, the Major League Baseball Player's Trust for Children and on the Los Angeles Commission on Children Youth and their Families. She also served on the board of the Mar Vista Family Center and Para Los Niños, and was appointed to the Los Angeles City Child Care Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women. Links & Contact: fostermore.org @foster_more

How can you talk full advantage of the Adoption Tax Credit? What changes are important when filing for this credit for your 2020 taxes. We talk with Becky Wilmoth, an Enrolled Agent and Adoption Tax Credit Specialist with Bill's Tax Service and Josh Kroll, the Adoption Subsidy Resource Center coordinator at the North American Council on Adoptable Children.In this episode, we cover: What is the Adoption Tax Credit for adoption being claimed on 2020 federal taxes $14,300It is a non-refundable tax credit. How to advocate for refundability.What is a “credit” and how does it differ from a deduction or some other form of tax savings? If you get a tax refund every year, how would you use the Adoption Tax Credit? If you don’t have any federal tax liability, should you still apply the credit to your federal income taxes? What type of adoptions are included or excluded? Stepparent adoption? Embryo adoption? Same-sex partner second parent adoption? Unmarried heterosexual second parent adoption? Surrogacy?Can you get credit for each adoption you complete even if completed in the same year? What about adopting siblings at the same time?What is a Qualified Adoption Expense for purposes of the Adoption Tax Credit?When can you claim the Adoption Tax Credit?Domestic Infant AdoptionInternational Adoption Re-adoption in the US for International AdoptionFoster Care AdoptionSpecial Needs Adoption: How does the Adoption Tax Credit differ for adoptions from foster care?Special needs child for international adoptionWhat income level is excluded from claiming the Adoption Tax Credit in 2020?How long can the credit be carried over?Will the Adoption Tax Credit offset self-employment tax or will it only offset income tax liability? How does the Adoption Tax Credit work in conjunction with employer benefits?What type of documentation should you submit with your taxes? What type of documentation should you keep in your records?What should you do if you do not have your child’s social security number when you get ready to file your taxes? When should you consider using an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN #) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN #)?How does the Adoption Tax Credit work with kinship adoptions? What if the child never was involved with the foster care?What are the most common questions received about the Adoption Tax Credit?How to find a tax specialist knowledgeable on the Adoption Tax Credit?This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:· Weekly podcasts· Weekly articles/blog posts· Resource pages on all aspects of family buildingCreating a Family also has an active presence on many social media platforms. Please like or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and

Guest attorney Tina Seymour Demoran gives an overview of adoption in Mississippi and addresses listener questions.Topics discussed:requirementscostsubsidiesinfant adoptionout of culture adoptionfamily leaveprivacyreversalsinheritancespecial needsMore information:https://www.adoptuskids.org/ Contact: info@adoptuskids.org or adoptms.kids@mdcps.ms.govIRS Topic Number 607--Adoption Credit and Adoption Assistance Program IRS.GovMississippi Bar (What are the steps in adopting a child?) https://www.msbar.org/for-the-public/consumer-information/what-are-the-steps-in-adopting-a-child/North American Council on Adoptable Children https://www.nacac.org/help/adoption-assistance/adoption-assistance-us/state-programs/Child Welfare Information Gateway https://www.childwelfare.gov/For more information on Title IV-E eligibility, view our fact sheet Eligibility and Benefits for Federal Adoption Assistance.Information about our guest and the Seymour Law Firm upcoming seminars: https://www.seymourlawms.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As we struggle with the challenge of safely sending children back to school, weighing concern for their social needs while moderating our own anxiety, this episode becomes relevant and important. Sue Badeau, nationally known speaker, writer and consultant for traumatized children brings her perspective of helping children by helping those who care for them. As mother of 22 children with years of expertise with child welfare, the juvenile justice systems, the Council on Adoptable Children, the National and The Child Traumatic Stress Network, she knows the dynamics personally and professionally. She is joined by her daughter, Chelsea Badeau, artist and designer of their new book, Building Bridges of Hope: A Coloring Book For Adults Caring for Children Who have Experienced Trauma. You will hear strategies from research, theory, and clinical experience and tools for bridging hope.

Today we dive deep into an area that takes a lot of soul searching, but sometimes is necessary to preserve relationships and the family: residential care and group homes. We talk with a caregiver not only on the front lines of parenting an individual with FASD and trauma – but in the midst of the riots in Minnesota: Barb Clark is a Parent Support and Training Specialist with the North American Council on Adoptable Children, FASD Consultant and parent of four adopted children, including one with FASD.Barb and her husband went from trying to teach the FASD out of their daughter:“We thought we were these amazing strict parents.” to “Once the cloud cover of trauma cleared, and the constant fog of trauma was lifted, we were able to have a better relationship with her.”In this podcast we unpack the journey between these two points:How professionals told Barb she was paranoid and how bad advice made things worse;What parenting fails and early strategies she used before becoming FASD and trauma informed;The escalation of behaviour that led to the heart wrenching decision to place her daughter in a residential treatment program and eventually a group home;The initial guilt and grief that turned into a deeper relationship with her daughter, as she thrives in a highly structured and secure environment that is not possible in a family home; andHow her daughter's rage in the car turned into a conversation with another individual on the Spectrum which led to the best article on rages I've ever read. (And we share it with you).“If they are not judging you, you are not parenting these kids right.”You'll definitely want to hear Barb's unique parenting perspective, but also her reflections on:what she wished she would have been told early on about FASD;the most effective intervention and therapy for individuals on the Spectrum; and her best advice for other caregivers and her hope for her daughter's future.Barb not only has a deeply moving story that will be familiar to caregivers, but we talk about how her passion for helping others really shines through in not only her work at NACAC but as an FASD Consultant. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FASDSUCCESS)

For gay men looking to become dads, the world of adoption sometimes may seem impossible to navigate. There's so much information, so many opinions, stories, and ways to adopt that it may seem overwhelming. In this episode we've tried to lay the groundwork for adoption. A former social service worker, an LGBT specialist in an adoption organization and a gay dad with three different adoption stories had a vibrant discussion with us on the various paths to adoption, on myths, on homophobia – and much more. Download the full, unedited discussion of this episode (53:08) In preparation for this episode, we've searched the internet for common myths among gay men on adoption. Here's what we've found, and what our guests in this episode said about it: Biological parents perceive a gay-dad household as an ‘immoral environment.' - NOT TRUE (IN GENERAL). According to Ethan Cohan, two-time adoptive dad, some bio moms specifically look for gay dads, just because they feel better knowing there will be no other 'mom' but them.Gay men, and especially gay single men, are being pushed down the list of adoption, and wait more time to be matched. - PARTIALLY TRUE. According to Nitara Frost, Parent Support Specialist for LGBTQ Parents at the North American Council on Atoptable Children, there's some evidence that single parent households are being pushed down the list, especially with foster-to-adopt route. Judges prefer reuniting kids with their biological parents over approving gay men as adoptive parents. - TRUE. There's an overall attempt of reunifications with the birth parents as part of the adoption process, mainly to give the bio parents the opportunity to not give up the child, instead of trying to get the child at a later stage.Some adoption agencies are not gay friendly, even if they don't specify it on their websites. - TRUE. Our guests in this episode recommend to check your adoption agency against lists like HRC or ask other gay dads who worked with this agency to make sure they are as gay friendly as they say they are. Some agencies will not indicate that they are not homophobic, but will discriminate against gay dads. Our Guests Nitara Frost, Parent Support Specialist for LGBTQ Parents at the North American Council on Atoptive Children (NACAC)Nitara Frost has worked for North American Council on Adoptable Children as the Parent Support Specialist serving LGBTQ adoptive parents in the state of Minnesota for almost 9 years.  She had also been working Nationwide supporting LGBTQ adoptive and pre-adoptive parents for 7 years.  She and her wife are adoptive parents to 5 children. Check out NACAC Staff Page Eufe de la Torre, Therapist and former social worker in Child WelfareEufe (www.eufetherapy.com) is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist in private practice.  Eufe has over 25 years of clinical experience working with LGBTQ individuals and couples who are working through relationship or personal issues, including those who are preparing to become parents. Eufe lives in Los Angeles, CA.  He and his husband are adoptive parents to two boys who are now 15 and 18 years olds.  He can be reached at this email.   Ethan Cohan, Adoptive FatherEthan is a partner at the Century City entertainment law firm Del Shaw Moonves where his practice focuses on entertainment transactional law with an emphasis on deal-making and production in television, film and new media. Born and raised in New York, Ethan currently lives in Los Angeles with his family, including their two sons and one dog. If you'd like to speak with Ethan personally please email us Preparing for Adoption Here's a list of recommendations for general preparations to make if you are gay men looking to adopt: Build your support system -- before embarking on the journey it's important to make sure you have family and/or friends by your side, and also people who have been through adoption. Reach out to gay dads group on Facebook or even write to us to g...

For gay men looking to become dads, the world of adoption sometimes may seem impossible to navigate. There's so much information, so many opinions, stories, and ways to adopt that it may seem overwhelming. In this episode we've tried to lay the groundwork for adoption. A former social service worker, an LGBT specialist in an adoption organization and a gay dad with three different adoption stories had a vibrant discussion with us on the various paths to adoption, on myths, on homophobia – and much more. Download the full, unedited discussion of this episode (53:08) In preparation for this episode, we've searched the internet for common myths among gay men on adoption. Here's what we've found, and what our guests in this episode said about it: Biological parents perceive a gay-dad household as an ‘immoral environment.’ - NOT TRUE (IN GENERAL). According to Ethan Cohan, two-time adoptive dad, some bio moms specifically look for gay dads, just because they feel better knowing there will be no other 'mom' but them.Gay men, and especially gay single men, are being pushed down the list of adoption, and wait more time to be matched. - PARTIALLY TRUE. According to Nitara Frost, Parent Support Specialist for LGBTQ Parents at the North American Council on Atoptable Children, there's some evidence that single parent households are being pushed down the list, especially with foster-to-adopt route. Judges prefer reuniting kids with their biological parents over approving gay men as adoptive parents. - TRUE. There's an overall attempt of reunifications with the birth parents as part of the adoption process, mainly to give the bio parents the opportunity to not give up the child, instead of trying to get the child at a later stage.Some adoption agencies are not gay friendly, even if they don't specify it on their websites. - TRUE. Our guests in this episode recommend to check your adoption agency against lists like HRC or ask other gay dads who worked with this agency to make sure they are as gay friendly as they say they are. Some agencies will not indicate that they are not homophobic, but will discriminate against gay dads. Our Guests Nitara Frost, Parent Support Specialist for LGBTQ Parents at the North American Council on Atoptive Children (NACAC)Nitara Frost has worked for North American Council on Adoptable Children as the Parent Support Specialist serving LGBTQ adoptive parents in the state of Minnesota for almost 9 years.  She had also been working Nationwide supporting LGBTQ adoptive and pre-adoptive parents for 7 years.  She and her wife are adoptive parents to 5 children. Check out NACAC Staff Page Eufe de la Torre, Therapist and former social worker in Child WelfareEufe (www.eufetherapy.com) is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist in private practice.  Eufe has over 25 years of clinical experience working with LGBTQ individuals and couples who are working through relationship or personal issues, including those who are preparing to become parents. Eufe lives in Los Angeles, CA.  He and his husband are adoptive parents to two boys who are now 15 and 18 years olds.  He can be reached at this email.   Ethan Cohan, Adoptive FatherEthan is a partner at the Century City entertainment law firm Del Shaw Moonves where his practice focuses on entertainment transactional law with an emphasis on deal-making and production in television, film and new media. Born and raised in New York, Ethan currently lives in Los Angeles with his family, including their two sons and one dog. If you'd like to speak with Ethan personally please email us Preparing for Adoption Here's a list of recommendations for general preparations to make if you are gay men looking to adopt: Build your support system -- before embarking on the journey it's important to make sure you have family and/or friends by your side, and also people who have been through adoption. Reach out to gay dads group on Facebook or even write to us to g...

Guest attorney Tina Seymour Demoran gives an overview of adoption in Mississippi and addresses listener questions.Topics discussed:requirementscostsubsidiesinfant adoptionout of culture adoptionfamily leaveprivacyreversalsinheritancespecial needsMore information:AdoptUSKids or info@adoptuskids.org or adoptms.kids@mdcps.ms.govIRS Topic Number 607--Adoption Credit and Adoption Assistance Program IRS.GovMississippi Bar (What are the steps in adopting a child?)North American Council on Adoptable Children https://www.nacac.org/help/adoption-assistance/adoption-assistance-us/state-programs/Child Welfare Information Gateway https://www.childwelfare.gov/For more information on Title IV-E eligibility, view our fact sheet Eligibility and Benefits for Federal Adoption Assistance.Information about our guest and the Seymour Law Firm upcoming seminars: https://www.seymourlawms.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What type of assistance or subsidies are available for parents adopting a child from foster care? Who determines the amount of a monthly adoption subsidy and how can parents negotiate for a fair amount? Host Dawn Davenport, Executive Director of Creating a Family, the national foster care & adoption education and support nonprofit, interviews Josh Kroll, Project Coordinator for the Adoption Subsidy Resource Center at the North American Council on Adoptable Children.Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Seventeen years ago, Professor and licensed clinical social worker, Betsy Vonk, created a list of 39 recommendations for how adoptive parents could improve racial awareness, help their adoptive children connect with their culture, and develop survival skills for themselves and their children. Professor Vonk and I discussed her research, whether she would add anything to her list today, and what resources she recommends, especially for adoptive parents of children from Asian descent. Below are links to some of her recommendations: REPORT: Cultural Competence for Transracial Adoptive Parents: http://mha.ohio.gov/Portals/0/assets/Learning/CulturalCompetence/Subgroups/Transracial%20Adoptive%20Parents/Full%20Articles/CC.transracial.adoptive.parents.pdf Cultural Korean American Adoptive Family Network: http://www.kaanet.org/ John Raible Online—Exploring adoption, race & social justice: https://johnraible.wordpress.com/ Gazillion Voices: https://gazillionvoices.com/ W.I.S.E. Up! PowerBook: http://adoptionsupport.org/store/wise-up-sm-powerbook/ Pact—An Adoption Alliance: http://www.pactadopt.org/app/servlet/HomePage North American Council on Adoptable Children: https://www.nacac.org/

Host Dawn Davenport, Executive Director of Creating a Family, the national infertility & adoption education and support nonprofit, interviews Allison Douglas, Family Advocate at Harmony Family Center in Knoxville, TN. She and her husband have adopted 4 children via foster care. And Sue Badeau, President of the North American Council on Adoptable Children and adoptive mom of 22 children. Creating a Family has many free resources related to this topic on our website at Adoption A-Z Resource Guide (https://creatingafamily.org/adoption/resources/ ) Please leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks. Click to tweet: http://ctt.ec/SEBab Facebook share: https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A//creatingafamily.org/adoption-category/parenting-toolkit-harder-parent-kids/ Show Highlights: https://creatingafamily.org/adoption-category/parenting-toolkit-harder-parent-kids/ Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

As we approach the 15th Anniversary of 9-11, we are reminded of the countless children who have faced life-threatening circumstances from war, terrorist attack, natural disasters and refugee crisis. In this episode Sue Badeau, nationally known speaker, writer and consultant for traumatized children brings her perspective as a mother of 22 children and years of expertise with child welfare, the juvenile justice systems, the Council on Adoptable Children and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network to help children by helping those who care for them. She is joined by her daughter, Chelsea Badeau, the artist and designer of their new book, Building Bridges of Hope: A Coloring Book For Adults Caring for Children Who have Experienced Trauma. You will hear strategies from research, theory, and clinical experience. You will find that with inspiring creativity, this coloring book serves as a training tool, a resource and a bridge of hope for caregivers.

The adoption tax credit is a great way to help fund your adoption, though it is often underutilized. Host Dawn Davenport will interview two of the leading experts on this confusing tax credit: Donald Cofsky, President of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and Josh Kroll, with the North American Council on Adoptable Children. adoption tax credit, adoption tax credit 2013, adoption, foster care adoption, failed adoption, international adoption Highlights of this show can be found here: Highlights For more information on the Adoption Tax Credit, click here. Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Most children adopted from US foster care are eligible for an monthly adoption subisdy and other benefits from the state. What benefits are available? College tuition, medical insurance, monthy stipend? What is reasonable? Our guests are Josh Kroll, Project Coordinator with the Adoption Subsidy Resource Center at the North American Council on Adoptable Children and  Julie Mondroski and Judith Ungar-Neuenkirch, case workers with Clark County Nevada—otherwise known as Las Vegas. adopting from foster care, foster care adoption, waiting US children, adopting a US child, toddler adoption, adoption photolisting,  Blog summary of the show and highlights can be found here:  Blog summary of the show  Highlights   More Creating a Family resources on foster care adoption can be found here.Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

New York City Latino community leaders, social service providers, parents and allies hold an emergency summit to address the state of affairs of Latino families and Latino family support services in New York City, particularly the policies of the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS). The summit serves to provide recommendations for enhancing the availability of culturally competent community-based Latino family support services throughout the city. The summit is facilitated by Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, CEO of Safe Space. [Video 1: 73 min.] Perspectives regarding the current state of Latino children and families in New York City are presented. Speakers include: Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, CEO of Safe Space; James A. Krauskopf, Distinguished Lecturer and Director of the School of Public Affairs Nonprofit Group at Baruch College; Elba Montalvo, Executive Director of the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families; Lillian Rodriguez-Lopez, President of the Hispanic Federation; Domingo Flores legislative director of the Office of New York City Councilwoman Annabel Palma; and parent speakers Arlene Pimentel and Wildania Abreu of Alianza Dominicana. A question and answer session follows. [Video 2: 67 min.] Perspectives from the field are presented in a panel discussion. Panelists include Rosa Rosado, Assistant Director, Child Welfare Organizing Project; Moises Perez, Executive Director, Alianza Dominicana; Denise Rosario, Executive Director, Coalition for Hispanic Family Services; and Dr. Hector R. Cordero-Guzman, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Black and Hispanic Studies at Baruch College. [Video 3: 81 min.] Guest speaker Commissioner John B. Mattingly of the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) discusses a plan for ACS reform and answers questions from the audience. Policy recommendations are offered by representatives speaking on behalf of structured workgroups brought together as part of the summit. These speakers include: Elvira Gonzalez of the Puerto Rican Family Institute, presenting recommendations related to preventative services and family support; Jose Nazario of the Coalition for Hispanic Families, presenting recommendations related to foster care services; Ernesto Loperena of the New York Council on Adoptable Children, presenting recommendations related to adoption and after care services; and Christian Dial, presenting reccomendations regarding capacity building, cultural competency and training. The summit is sponsored by the Coalition for Latino Families and the Baruch College School of Public Affairs. It takes place March 28, 2006 at the William and Anita Newman Conference Center at Baruch College.

New York City Latino community leaders, social service providers, parents and allies hold an emergency summit to address the state of affairs of Latino families and Latino family support services in New York City, particularly the policies of the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS). The summit serves to provide recommendations for enhancing the availability of culturally competent community-based Latino family support services throughout the city. The summit is facilitated by Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, CEO of Safe Space. [Video 1: 73 min.] Perspectives regarding the current state of Latino children and families in New York City are presented. Speakers include: Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, CEO of Safe Space; James A. Krauskopf, Distinguished Lecturer and Director of the School of Public Affairs Nonprofit Group at Baruch College; Elba Montalvo, Executive Director of the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families; Lillian Rodriguez-Lopez, President of the Hispanic Federation; Domingo Flores legislative director of the Office of New York City Councilwoman Annabel Palma; and parent speakers Arlene Pimentel and Wildania Abreu of Alianza Dominicana. A question and answer session follows. [Video 2: 67 min.] Perspectives from the field are presented in a panel discussion. Panelists include Rosa Rosado, Assistant Director, Child Welfare Organizing Project; Moises Perez, Executive Director, Alianza Dominicana; Denise Rosario, Executive Director, Coalition for Hispanic Family Services; and Dr. Hector R. Cordero-Guzman, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Black and Hispanic Studies at Baruch College. [Video 3: 81 min.] Guest speaker Commissioner John B. Mattingly of the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) discusses a plan for ACS reform and answers questions from the audience. Policy recommendations are offered by representatives speaking on behalf of structured workgroups brought together as part of the summit. These speakers include: Elvira Gonzalez of the Puerto Rican Family Institute, presenting recommendations related to preventative services and family support; Jose Nazario of the Coalition for Hispanic Families, presenting recommendations related to foster care services; Ernesto Loperena of the New York Council on Adoptable Children, presenting recommendations related to adoption and after care services; and Christian Dial, presenting reccomendations regarding capacity building, cultural competency and training. The summit is sponsored by the Coalition for Latino Families and the Baruch College School of Public Affairs. It takes place March 28, 2006 at the William and Anita Newman Conference Center at Baruch College.

New York City Latino community leaders, social service providers, parents and allies hold an emergency summit to address the state of affairs of Latino families and Latino family support services in New York City, particularly the policies of the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS). The summit serves to provide recommendations for enhancing the availability of culturally competent community-based Latino family support services throughout the city. The summit is facilitated by Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, CEO of Safe Space. [Video 1: 73 min.] Perspectives regarding the current state of Latino children and families in New York City are presented. Speakers include: Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, CEO of Safe Space; James A. Krauskopf, Distinguished Lecturer and Director of the School of Public Affairs Nonprofit Group at Baruch College; Elba Montalvo, Executive Director of the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families; Lillian Rodriguez-Lopez, President of the Hispanic Federation; Domingo Flores legislative director of the Office of New York City Councilwoman Annabel Palma; and parent speakers Arlene Pimentel and Wildania Abreu of Alianza Dominicana. A question and answer session follows. [Video 2: 67 min.] Perspectives from the field are presented in a panel discussion. Panelists include Rosa Rosado, Assistant Director, Child Welfare Organizing Project; Moises Perez, Executive Director, Alianza Dominicana; Denise Rosario, Executive Director, Coalition for Hispanic Family Services; and Dr. Hector R. Cordero-Guzman, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Black and Hispanic Studies at Baruch College. [Video 3: 81 min.] Guest speaker Commissioner John B. Mattingly of the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) discusses a plan for ACS reform and answers questions from the audience. Policy recommendations are offered by representatives speaking on behalf of structured workgroups brought together as part of the summit. These speakers include: Elvira Gonzalez of the Puerto Rican Family Institute, presenting recommendations related to preventative services and family support; Jose Nazario of the Coalition for Hispanic Families, presenting recommendations related to foster care services; Ernesto Loperena of the New York Council on Adoptable Children, presenting recommendations related to adoption and after care services; and Christian Dial, presenting reccomendations regarding capacity building, cultural competency and training. The summit is sponsored by the Coalition for Latino Families and the Baruch College School of Public Affairs. It takes place March 28, 2006 at the William and Anita Newman Conference Center at Baruch College.

Episode 63: Today's Social Work Podcast is a broad overview of current policies and practices associated with adoption in the United States. According to the Evan B. Donaldson Institute, 6 in 10 Americans have had experience with adoption, meaning you, or a family member or close friend was adopted, adopted a child, or put a child up for adoption. Although most Americans have experience with adoption, as you'll hear in today's interview, the world of adoption is incredibly complex. For example, is it ever acceptable to consider the race of a prospective adoptive family when making placement decisions? For example, you're looking to place an African American child. You have three prospective adoptive families - two African American and one White. Assuming all things are equal, could you use race as an exclusionary criterion? What about if the child was White, Latino, or Native American? If you know the answer - congratulations. If not, keep listening. And even if you know the answer, keep listening. My guest, Dr. Ruth McRoy, has been an academician, researcher, practitioner, trainer and lecturer in the field for over 30 years. She is a member of the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) Board and is a Senior Research Fellow and member of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Board. In today's conversation, Ruth talks about different kinds of adoptions such as transracial, international, infant placement, and foster care adoption. She talks about the role of the social worker in adoption, from pre-placement to post-placement. She talks about some of the national and international laws that regulate adoption, such as the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and the Hague Convention. We end today's conversation with some resources that you can tap for more information about adoption, including the Evan B. Donaldson Institute, the National Resource Center for Adoption, AdoptUsKids.org, and the North American Counsel on Adoptable Children. One quick word about today's Social Work Podcast: I recorded the interview with my Zoom H2 digital recorder. Ruth and I were sitting in an empty lecture hall at the Oregon Convention Center during the Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education. Empty rooms are something of a commodity at conventions and I've done my best to edit out the sounds of people opening and closing the door looking for their own place to get some privacy. And now, without further ado, on to Episode 63 of the Social Work Podcast: Adoption Policy and Practice in the USA: Interview with Ruth McRoy, Ph.D.

Episode 63: Today's Social Work Podcast is a broad overview of current policies and practices associated with adoption in the United States. According to the Evan B. Donaldson Institute, 6 in 10 Americans have had experience with adoption, meaning you, or a family member or close friend was adopted, adopted a child, or put a child up for adoption. Although most Americans have experience with adoption, as you'll hear in today's interview, the world of adoption is incredibly complex. For example, is it ever acceptable to consider the race of a prospective adoptive family when making placement decisions? For example, you're looking to place an African American child. You have three prospective adoptive families - two African American and one White. Assuming all things are equal, could you use race as an exclusionary criterion? What about if the child was White, Latino, or Native American? If you know the answer - congratulations. If not, keep listening. And even if you know the answer, keep listening. My guest, Dr. Ruth McRoy, has been an academician, researcher, practitioner, trainer and lecturer in the field for over 30 years. She is a member of the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) Board and is a Senior Research Fellow and member of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Board. In today's conversation, Ruth talks about different kinds of adoptions such as transracial, international, infant placement, and foster care adoption. She talks about the role of the social worker in adoption, from pre-placement to post-placement. She talks about some of the national and international laws that regulate adoption, such as the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and the Hague Convention. We end today's conversation with some resources that you can tap for more information about adoption, including the Evan B. Donaldson Institute, the National Resource Center for Adoption, AdoptUsKids.org, and the North American Counsel on Adoptable Children. One quick word about today's Social Work Podcast: I recorded the interview with my Zoom H2 digital recorder. Ruth and I were sitting in an empty lecture hall at the Oregon Convention Center during the Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education. Empty rooms are something of a commodity at conventions and I've done my best to edit out the sounds of people opening and closing the door looking for their own place to get some privacy. And now, without further ado, on to Episode 63 of the Social Work Podcast: Adoption Policy and Practice in the USA: Interview with Ruth McRoy, Ph.D.