Families Rising

SEE SCHEDULE O.NACAC SUPPORTS, EDUCATES, INSPIRES, AND ADVOCATES SO ADOPTIVE, KINSHIP, FOSTER, GUARDIAN, AND CUSTOMARY CAREGIVING FAMILIES THRIVE AND EVERY CHILD AND YOUTH HAS A PERMANENT, SAFE, LOVING, SUPPORTED, CULTURALLY COMPETENT FAMILY.

SEE SCHEDULE O.ADOPTIVE FOSTER KINSHIP CONNECTIONS -ADOPTIVE FOSTER KINSHIP CONNECTIONS PROVIDES SUPPORT TO ADOPTIVE, FOSTER, AND KINSHIP PARENTS ACROSS MINNESOTA. DURING 2022, WE OPERATED 28 ONGOING SUPPORT GROUPS, HELD DOZENS OF OTHER SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS, AND PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE PEER SUPPORT TO HUNDREDS OF ADOPTIVE, FOSTER, AND KINSHIP FAMILIES. THE AFKC PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUPS HAD MORE THAN 2,225 MEMBERS WHO SHARED RESOURCES WITH ONE ANOTHER AND PROVIDED MUTUAL SUPPORT DURING DIFFICULT TIMES. WE ALSO OFFERED THREE REGULAR VIRTUAL GROUPS FOR TEENS AND CHILDREN. THESE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES RAISING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HELPED REDUCE FAMILIES' ISOLATION, INCREASED THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THEIR CHILDREN'S NEEDS, INCREASED FAMILIES' STABILITY, AND PREVENTED ADOPTION DISRUPTIONS.

SEE SCHEDULE O.QUALITY IMPROVEMENT CENTER -NACAC, AS PART OF A FEDERALLY FUNDED COLLABORATION LED BY SPAULDING FOR CHILDREN, BEGAN WORK ON THIS PROJECT TO HELP STATES, TERRITORIES, AND TRIBES IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO ENGAGE CHILDREN IN THEIR CASE AND PERMANENCY PLANS. EARLY WORK INCLUDED PROJECT PLANNING AND RESEARCH ON EXISTING YOUTH ENGAGEMENT MODELS.

SEE SCHEDULE O.PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CONFERENCE -THE NACAC ANNUAL CONFERENCE SERVED ALMOST 1,300 ADOPTIVE/FOSTER PARENTS, CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHERS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING PERMANENCE FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED 27 EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS WHERE THEY LEARNED HOW TO BETTER SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER CHALLENGES, RECRUIT AND PREPARE PERMANENT FAMILIES FOR KIDS, AND MORE.NACAC OFFERED TRAINING IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY TO THOUSANDS OF PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS ON TOPICS SUCH AS FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS, TRAUMA-INFORMED PARENTING, RACE AND EQUITY ISSUES IN CHILD WELFARE, PARENT GROUP DEVELOPMENT, ADVOCACY, EFFECTIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES, CORE ISSUES IN ADOPTION, AND ADOPTION COMPETENCE. MORE THAN 500 PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS ATTENDED TWO ONE-DAY CONFERENCES WE HELDONE ON FASD AND ONE ON RACE/EQUITY ISSUES IN CHILD WELFARE.NACAC ALSO HELPED HUNDREDS OF PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS FIND THE INFORMATION THE NEED TO NAVIGATE THE ADOPTION PROCESS, AND THE NACAC WEBSITE PROVIDES IN-DEPTH INFORMATION ON ADOPTION ISSUES TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SITE VISITORS EACH YEAR.