Jockey Being Family & North American Council on Adoptable Children Partnering to Improve Outcomes for Adopted Children, Youth and their Families

The Community Champions Network is supported by Jockey Being Family™, Jockey International’s corporate citizenship initiative to strengthen adoptive families for successful futures.

NACAC/CCN Programs Initiated 2005 NACAC Conference Scholarships 2005 Parent Group Leaders Training 2006 Technical Assistance to Parent Groups 2006 Title Sponsorship of MN Adoptwalk 2006 CCN Community Champions Network 2009 Post-Adoption Advocacy Training 2011 Advocacy Tool Kit on line and in print 2011 Youth Speak Out/Network Teams Launched Annual Parent Leadership and Legislative Advocacy Trainings 2012 Parent & Youth Partnering Training 2013 Youth One-Day Conference Launched at NACAC

Evolving Strategy 2005Support to parent group leaders through training and technical assistance 2006 Develop post adoption coalitions in states and provinces. Empower groups to leverage local dollars 2008 Target parent support group to urban locations and train teams 2011 Combine support group and coalition development strategies 2012 Addition of strong youth component

CCN Sites by Year Eau Claire, Wisconsin Kansas City, Missouri Los Angeles County Ontario, Canada Orlando, Florida Rhode Island Washington, D.C. Washington State

CCN Sites by Year Alberta, Canada Eau Claire, Wisconsin Kansas City, Missouri Los Angeles County North Carolina Ontario, Canada Orlando, Florida Rhode Island St. Louis, Missouri Tampa, Florida Washington, D.C.

CCN Sites by Year Eau Claire, Wisconsin Kansas City, Missouri Los Angeles County Maryland Michigan North Carolina Orlando, Florida Ontario, Canada Sacramento, California St. Louis, Missouri Tampa Florida Texas Washington, D.C.

CCN Sites by Year Colorado Eau Claire, Wisconsin Florida (state) Kansas City, Missouri Los Angeles County Maryland Michigan New Brunswick Nova Scotia Sacramento, CA St. Louis, Missouri Ontario, Canada Texas Washington, D.C.

CCN Sites by Year Chicago, Illinois Colorado Eau Claire, Wisconsin Florida (state) Kansas City, Missouri Los Angeles County Maryland Michigan New Brunswick Nova Scotia Ontario, Canada Rhode Island Sacramento, CA St. Louis, Missouri Texas Washington, D.C.

CCN Sites by Year Chicago, Illinois Colorado Eau Claire, Wisconsin Florida (state) Kansas City, Missouri Los Angeles County Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi New Brunswick Nova Scotia Ontario, Canada Rhode Island Sacramento, CA St. Louis, Missouri Texas Washington, D.C.

CCN Sites by Year Chicago, Illinois Colorado Eau Claire, Wisconsin Florida (state) Kansas City, Missouri Los Angeles County Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi New Brunswick Nova Scotia Ohio Ontario, Canada Rhode Island Sacramento, CA St. Louis, Missouri San Francisco, CA Texas Washington, D.C.

CCN Sites by Year United States Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco) Chicago, Illinois Colorado Delaware Eau Claire, Wisconsin Florida Kansas City, Missouri Los Angeles County Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi Ohio Rhode Island Sacramento County St. Louis, Missouri Texas Washington, D.C. Canada Ontario New Brunswick Nova Scotia Alberta

System Improvement and Advocacy Highlights Federal – US: Teams from 9 states attended 3+ day training and legislative canvassing visits on use of Fostering Connections and Adoption Incentive monies to fund adoption supports; May 2010 – Canada: System Change/Advocacy sessions held in September and October 2010 in Ontario; NAAN formed, advocacy platform finalized November 2010 – Canada: HUMA Hearings and report include adoption advocacy issues 2011; youth testify

System Improvement and Advocacy Highlights California – Legislation passed to ensure Fostering Connections monies support youth in care and adoption supports – Youth team – CAYAT (CA Youth Adopted Youth Advocacy Team) – launched in Los Angeles County State legislative advocacy day with LA and Sac County Teams, April 2011

System Improvement and Advocacy Highlights Missouri – Kansas City and Saint Louis receive state funding through legislative statute to create post adoption resource centers at each of two parent led organizations – leveraging $400,000 in state funds – funds have been allocated annual since – Kids & Judges event held to educate judicial system to the system from child/youth point of view – Ongoing advocacy to secure Fostering Connections monies for adoption support programs

System Improvement and Advocacy Highlights Ontario – Expert Panel releases “Raising Expectations” in 2009, outlining improvements both pre and post adoption – Standing Commission on Adoption established – Bill 179 passed, freeing Crown Wards for adoption and authorizing adoption subsidies for sibling groups and children 10+ years of age – ACO Youth Network and ACC Youth Speak Out Team launched, October 2011 – Youth team testifies at Youth Leaving Care Hearings, November 2011

System Improvement and Advocacy Highlights Massachusetts – H.E.R.O.E.S. Youth Leadership launched, December 2011 – Youth panelists at three national conferences New Brunswick – Youth Speak Out Team launched June 2012 – Youth panelists testify on permanency before Parliament, November 2012 Ottawa, Ontario – Second youth advocacy team launched, November 2012

Parent Networking Support Highlights Parent Liaison Model launched in New Brunswick, September 2011 – Moncton Pilot, Bilingual Parent Liaison Lead Sacramento Capital Adoptive Family Alliance – Web-based one-stop information and referral site launched – Parent/professional CCN Steering Committee established and sustained Texas Advocacy Network under Embrace established, April 2011 Hundreds of adoptive families from all sites have benefitted from immediate responses of support, information, resources and referral in response to requests posted to list serv

Post Adoption Needs Research CCN conducts survey on post-adoption needs, releases findings at the Rudd Adoption Research conference and in Adoptalk article NACAC/CCN staff contribute learning from CCN project to Evan B. Donaldson landmark report* on efficacy and best practice in post adoption support service domain, released October 2010 NACAC/CCN join national US coalition for federal PAS mandate; present at Congressional Briefing, October 2011 NACAC/CCN staff and parent partners participate in Post Adoption Practice and Policy Summits in D.C., April 2012 * “Keeping the Promise”

Post Adoption Needs Survey CCN’s international (US and Canada) survey to assess, from the community, post adoption support needs, helpful models, experiences – 1200 responses since September 2010 – 65% responded in regards to children adopted from foster care – 81% of responded identified a primary need of “Understanding of adoption issues by school and community personnel”

Post Adoption Survey Results, continued – 72.3% reported that “Provider(s) who are adoption competent” would help with unmet mental health needs – 88.9% reported that “Provider(s) who understand adoption issues” would help with unmet medical needs Of common post adoption support services, the following were reported to be used and helpful: – 81.9% training and education – 75.3% advice/support from experienced adoptive parents – 74.4% adoption subsidy

Post Adoption Survey Results, continued Barriers to accessing the help families identify as needing are: – 56.3% can’t find need services – 48.8% providers don’t understand adoption issues – 41.3% eligibility problems – 37.5% wait for services is too long

Training for Parents, Professionals and Community Partners Topics covered: – Adolescent Issues, Adolescent Permanency – Adoption Competency for Mental Health Providers – Adoption Competency for Parents – Attachment – Brain Development, Trauma and Recovery – Clinical Issues and Family Preservation – Community Forums and Needs Assessments – Parent and Youth Support Group Development – Parent Leadership and Advocacy – Post Adoption Supports and Networks – Youth Development and Advocacy – Webinar Training launched, April 2012

Training for Parents, Professionals and Community Partners Number of Trainees by Year:  2008 – 965  2009 – 1070  2010 – 1100  2011 – 1200  2012 – 1250

Sustainable CCN Model: Sacramento CCN Steering Committee Meeting monthly since 2009, parents & professionals in partnership January planning session; 4 committees established – Training November full-day training for parents/professionals Partnership with local community college Planning for next year – Identification Data collection: disruptions, service delivery Recommendations – Keeping the Promise – Outreach CCN Membership and awareness; web site – Respite Adopt US Kids grant: 12 families at retreat, launch of peer-to-peer support program

Contact Information NACAC 970 Raymond Avenue Saint Paul, Minnesota ~ Fax: ~ Kim Stevens ~ ~ Become a Member Today!