For Judges and Attorneys Handling Child Protective Services Cases
November 18, 2021
Spotlight on Adoption in November
November is National Adoption Month. Adoption is one way to provide permanency, stability, and a feeling of safety to children and youth whose parents’ rights have been terminated. Regardless of age, all children and youth deserve to have a safe and loving home. Firsthand stories of youth with lived experience can offer valuable perspectives and inform best practices for child welfare professionals.
This year, the federal Children’s Bureau aims to focus attention on adoption of older youth through its “Every Conversation Matters” campaign. Older youth in foster care are less likely to be adopted, are more likely to turn 18 while in foster care, and are at increased risk of entering adulthood without necessary supports. The Children’s Bureau offers help to start the conversation with youth by creating prompts in their “Ask Youth Challenge.”
There are multiple resources to assist judges and lawyers with discussing permanency with youth:
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare – CW360º Permanency & Transitions to Adulthoodcontains comprehensive information on permanency and transition support, including an article on Post Adoption Support for Families on page 18.
Department of Family and Protective Services – Texas Adoption Resource Exchange matches children awaiting adoption with adoptive parents and provides information on regional adoption and information events.
For a complete list of Resource Letters, please visit the Children's Commission webpage. Information provided by the Children’s Commission should not be read as a commentary by the Supreme Court of Texas or any other court. The Children’s Commission website is not equipped to facilitate dialogue or conversation about matters related to the information in this communique. For more information about the Children’s Commission, please visit our website.
