Advocacy

NACAC’s Community Champions Network is able to help organizations in the US and Canada start or enhance support or advocacy networks led by and serving youth people who have experienced adoption or foster care. Our services include providing technical assistance on leadership development and program planning. Each year, we offer training to youth leaders and… More

In 2016, NACAC created a Youth Advisory Team to ensure that we can highlight and learn from young people who have experienced foster care and adoption. In addition to advising NACAC and supporting our work to enhance youth advocacy efforts in the US and Canada, the Youth Advisory Team is available to consult with others… More

We at NACAC believe in the power of expressing your lived experience as an advocacy and support tool. We encourage adoptees and young people who are or who have been in foster care to share their stories to make a difference in the lives of others. We also embrace the diversity of ways people can… More

We at NACAC believe there is tremendous in shared experience and personal advocacy. By telling your story about foster care and adoption, you can change the child welfare system inspire others to get help or speak up help other young people know they are not alone change public perceptions of foster and adopted youth heal… More

When young people are telling their stories in advocacy efforts, it’s incredibly important to ensure that they know what to share and, more importantly, what not to share. Explore this section of our site to: Read about different ways to share your story Read and view sample stories, videos, and artwork from young people Strategic… More

Please explore the articles below about how to start or improve youth advocacy or support networks. Use the sidebar links to learn about how we can help. NACAC Resources Articles Teaching Youth the Essential Qualities of a Leader Developing an Advocacy Plan Taking Care of Yourself Advocacy Tips Tips for Creating a Public Service Announcement… More

By Kayla Van Dyke, NACAC’s youth engagement coordinator (this article originally appeared in Fostering Families Today) “Nothing about us without us!” This slogan has been used by many groups over the years to highlight the important role that stakeholder populations should have in informing the policies, procedures, and resources that affect them. Recently, these words… More

Choosing Your Purpose There are a variety of youth support and advocacy networks, although each group is different. Some options include: peer-to-peer mentoring traditional mentoring tutoring life-skills training advocacy support social Anyone who wants to start or enhance a youth network needs to decide what type of group is right for them and their community… More

Are you a young person who experienced foster care or adoption? Do you want to make a difference for other young people in foster care or adoption? You can do it! NACAC strongly believes that youth who have been in foster care and young people who were adopted are uniquely positioned to be child welfare… More

You can find other advocacy suggestions and ideas at the following sites: Citizens’ Committee for Children Community Tool Box (see Advocacy section beginning at Chapter 30)… More

As an advocate, you need access to data and information. On our site, you can find state adoption fact sheets created by Child Trends. You can also check out other advocacy tips and resources. There are many other sources of excellent data on child welfare can help advocates make their case: ChildTrends has child welfare… More

As an advocate, it helps to have data at your fingertips to make your case. The state adoption fact sheets linked below were developed by ChildTrends with support from Casey Family Programs. Using 2014 data, each fact sheet includes information about the following, with comparisons to national data: number of children adopted from foster care… More

Below, we summarize some key US federal laws that affect children in foster care and those who are adopted from care. For more information, visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Recent Comprehensive Child Welfare Legislation The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families of Act of 2014 — Created more protections for children in foster care to… More

NACAC has strong beliefs and positions on many key policies and practices in adoption and child welfare, as outlined in the position statements below. We encourage advocates to use these statements in their efforts to improve outcomes for children and families. In some cases, the statements reflect the belief that a given law, policy, or… More

Below are articles about advocacy efforts, data, and other information that may help you advocate for children and families, and training sessions NACAC has offered related to advocacy efforts. Articles Training Save… More

Use this information to help you connect with your federal, state, and provincial policymakers. United States Congress All members of Congress can be reached by calling the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. Then simply ask for your Senator or Representative by name. To find your Representative’s direct address, phone number, or e-mail, visit www.house.gov. Then enter… More

NACAC—as part of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group—is working to save the adoption tax credit and to ask Congress to make it refundable. We ask you to join us in this advocacy movement! What You Should Know There are two important things to know: In current discussions about tax reform, some people are suggesting… More

  Children need families, and families who raise children with special needs sometimes require support to help their children heal and thrive. Adoption assistance is a key component of this post-adoption support. Unfortunately, as adoptions from foster care increase and state budget coffers decrease, far too many states consider cutting adoption assistance programs as one… More

Visit the Post-Adoption Advocacy section of our website to learn how to advocate for post-adoption services so families in your community are able to remain committed and effective parents as they raise their children who have special needs… More