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Featured Publication
May 2008
FINDING FAMILIES FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN: THE ROLE OF RACE & LAW IN ADOPTION FROM FOSTER CARE, released in May and endorsed by a broad range of national child-welfare organizations, is the most thorough examination to date of the often-sensitive, controversial issues relating to transracial adoption and calls for major changes to better serve the needs of children of color and to improve their prospects of moving to permanent, loving homes. more

And Don't Miss This February Featured Report....
ADOPTIVE PARENT PREPARATION: MEETING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF ADOPTED CHILDREN, released in February represents the initial phase of a broad, long-term Institute project designed to shape best-practice standards that will assist adoption professionals in the preparation and education of adoptive parents. more
What's New

UPDATE: JULY E-NEWSLETTER

The July 2008 Adoption Institute E-Newsletter is now available. more
To access past issues, go to our archive.

PRESS: NAOMI CAHN JOINS
INSTITUTE FELLOWS PROGRAM

The Adoption Institute announces prominent legal scholar Naomi Cahn of George Washington University Law School as new Senior Research Fellows. more

EVENTS: STAFF APPEARANCES

Our Executive Director Adam Pertman and senior staff frequently have scheduled appearances throughout the country. more
Development News

SUPPORT MATT DONALDSON
RIDE OVER THE ROCKIES

In past years, Matt Donaldson has completed the Iron Man triathlon to raise support for the Institute named after his mother, Evan B. Donaldson. This year Matt will ride his bike for 100 miles through the Colorado Rockies in the Leadville Trail 100 - "The Race across the Sky" - on August 16-17, 2008. To donate, you can either send a check to the Adoption Institute (Please write "Matt Donaldson" or "100 Mile Race" on the memo line); or you can donate online from our support page here.

SAVE THE DATE: L.A. FUNDRAISER OCT. 23

mark October 23, 2008, on your calendars for the next Adoption Institute Benefit in Los Angeles. The event will be at a private home, so please contact Laura James for more information on sponsorship opportunities, and how to attend. If you are interested in hosting an event in your area, please contact Laura James

UPDATE: ANNUAL REPORT &
FIVE YEAR RETROSPECTIVE

The Institute has released its Annual Report and Five Year Restrospective. Read about our accomplishments and consider contributing to our important work more

HOST AN EVENT

If you are interested in hosting an event in your area, please contact External Relations Director Laura James at ljames@adoptioninstitute.org. And if parties are not "your thing," we welcome direct support of our work.more

Current Initiates

TRANSCULTURAL ADOPTION & IDENTITY

This study, with initial funding by the Kellogg Foundation, seeks to examine those factors that contribute to the development of healthy identities from those who know best - adopted adults. The initial focus of this research is on adults adopted internationally and raised in transracial families, with a comparison group of same-race domestic adoptees. We would like to thank all the adopted adults who participated in this first national survey to examine issues of identity in adoption (which incorporates race, culture and adoptive identities). Results and findings from this study will be published in the fall. Contact Policy & Operations Director Hollee McGinnis at hmcginnis@adoptioninstitute.org for more informationmore

ADOPTIVE PARENT PREPARATION PROJECT

This project, to which the Institute is seeking additional funding, seeks to develop practice recommendations as well as educational/training materials that strengthen and support the preparation of individuals and couples for adoptive parenthood, and to disseminate that knowledge and those materials to adoption practitioners and prospective adoptive parents. For more information on this initiative, contact Research & Project Director David Brodzinsky at dbrodzinsky@adoptioninstitute.org.

IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE & PRACTICE
IN GAY AND LESBIAN ADOPTION

This project will provide a review of the current state of knowledge and recommended best practices in adoption by gay and lesbian parents. With funding from a grant from the Gill Foundation, this white paper will be available in winter 2007 and is designed to be part of a broader project, not yet funded, to expand the Institute’s previous research on the subject. For more information on this project, contact Policy & Research Director Jeanne Howard at jhoward@adoptioninstitute.org.
On the Horizon
The Institute is seeking funding for several initiatives, including our Adoption in the Media and Educate the Educators programs. In addition, we are planning important new projects on embryo adoption and lowering barriers to adoption of children in foster care, for which new funding will be critical. Our work - and our dreams - are limited only by our resources. To learn more about contributing to these and current projects, contact our Executive Director Adam Pertman at apertman@adoptioninstitute.org or consider donating to the Institute. more