Press Releases
Every year, organizations and agencies across the country plan local events or activities to help educate the public on the needs of children and the families interested in adopting them. Consider reaching out to local news media and bloggers to report on your event or on the adoption issues, trends, or achievements in your area.
These sample press releases can be customized to fit your needs, and help you engage the public.
Tips:
- Review the Local Media Outreach page from AdoptUSKids.
- Connect with reporters or bloggers months in advance to establish an introduction and ask about their editorial schedules and specific interests.
- Use social media to develop media relationships. Tag them on relevant information.
Sample #1: To promote local event/activity
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[(Agency Name and Event) to [Describe Focus/Goal] at National Adoption Month Event
CITY, STATE—[Organization/Agency Name] will [describe event/activity] to raise awareness for National Adoption Month 2018—an annual campaign sponsored by the Children’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to encourage communities across the country to highlight adoption related issues. In [City/State], there are more than [include local/regional statistic] 15–17-year olds currently in the foster care system who need permanent family connections to carry them into adulthood.
This year’s National Adoption Month focuses on the importance of empowering youth voices. When teenagers with experience in foster care—whether they have reunified with family, achieved permanency with an adoptive family, or entered adulthood independently—share their stories, their unique insights can inspire their peers and prospective adoptive families. Professionals can work with teens to identify or develop meaningful ways their important perspectives can improve child welfare practices, training, and policy.
[Organization/Agency] [is partnering with…] to [specify goal of event or activity].
[Provide the important details on your event, activity, or service.]
[Consider including a quote by agency/organization spokesperson or political leader to comment on the issue or the event to express why it will be valued by the community.]
For more information [include website, social media, and other contact information].
#NAM2018
Sample #2: To promote the theme
Release Date:
Contact:
Phone:
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Teenagers in Foster Care Can Improve Child Welfare Practice By Sharing Their Stories
CITY, STATE—This November is National Adoption Month—an annual campaign sponsored by the Children’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to encourage communities to support the thousands of children across the country in need of permanent families. In [City/State], there are [include local/regional statistic] 15–17-year olds in foster care who are at risk of aging out of the system without fundamental emotional, legal, and/or financial support.
As many as 50 percent of youth who age out of foster care are likely to become homeless. This year, National Adoption Month is providing resources on how the voices of older youth can help professionals ensure “forever families” for teenagers in foster care.
[Include a local story that highlights an example of a teen whose story or feedback inspired positive changes, or supported recruitment efforts.]
When teenagers with experience in foster care or adoption share their stories publicly, they develop leadership and communications skills while deepening and expanding their ties to the community.
Professionals who identify ways to engage youth perspectives can use their unique insights to inform and improve child welfare practices and policy.
For more information on [agency/organization website, social media, and other contact information].
#NAM2018
