Increasingly, resource families are seen as key players in the team working to achieve permanency for children in foster care. When relatives or kin are not available, resource families are called upon to provide the support and stability a child needs at the most critical time of their lives—when they are removed from their homes. To ensure the needs of each child entering care are met, child welfare agencies have the difficult task of building and maintaining an adequate pool of resource families. The ability to match each child with an appropriate, loving family is critical and can lay the foundation for successful outcomes. This section includes an array of approaches and strategies that child welfare agencies can use to recruit a range of resource families.
Characteristics of Successful Recruitment Practitioners
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment at AdoptUSKids (2010)
View Abstract and Document
Highlights qualities many effective adoptive family recruiters have in common.
Data-driven Recruitment: Key Data Elements on Foster and Adoptive Families (PDF - 487 KB)
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment at AdoptUSKids (2016)
View Abstract and Document
Discusses the use of data in evaluating the efficacy of current recruitment practices for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents.
Developing Recruitment Plans: A Toolkit for States and Tribes (PDF - 391 KB)
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment at AdoptUSKids (2016)
Helps child welfare agencies develop data-driven recruitment plans and offers ideas for creating targeted recruitment plans focused on particular populations or areas.
Extreme Recruitment
The Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition
Compiles an array of resource documents designed to assist permanency workers in finding families and establishing lasting connections for youth in foster care.
Family Finding Evaluations: A Summary of Recent Findings (PDF - 444 KB)
Child Trends (2015)
Reviews the results from 13 evaluations of Family Finding that have been released over the past 2 years. The Family Finding model provides child welfare practitioners with intensive search and engagement techniques to identify family members and other adults close to a child in foster care in order to involve these adults in developing and carrying out a plan for the emotional and legal permanency of the child.
A Family for Life: The Vital Need to Achieve Permanency for Children in Foster Care (PDF - 4,485 KB)
The Donaldson Adoption Institute (2014)
Provides a synthesis of knowledge related to extensive, years-long research throughout the United States, England, and Canada on 22 specific practices that facilitate the adoption of children from foster care. It includes information about these practices, outcomes, and recommended resources.
Improving Recruitment Outcomes: 11 Things a Practitioner Can Do
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment at AdoptUSKids (2011)
View Abstract and Document
Describes practical steps to take and attitudes to embrace in order to achieve better recruitment outcomes.
Overview of Market Segmentation: A Tool for Targeting Recruitment
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment at AdoptUSKids (2011)
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Reviews five fundamental elements of recruitment and explains how market segmentation can assist child welfare agencies in addressing these elements.
Recruitment Ideas & Overcoming Barriers to Placement of Teens
You Gotta Believe
Provides selected resources for learning how to recruit homes for teens in foster care and how to overcome the barriers to recruiting homes and placing teens in permanent homes.
Resource Parent Recruitment and Training Programs
California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC)
Lists programs that focus on the location, identification, and education of families who are interested in being foster parents. These programs have been reviewed and, if appropriate, rated using the scientific rating scale created by CEBC.
Revitalizing Recruitment and Retention of Foster Parents
New York State Office of Children and Family Services & Welfare Research, Inc.
Includes practical strategies for recruiting and retaining foster, adoptive, and kinship families, as well as a blueprint for putting diligent recruitment into action with hands-on, step-by-step tools and tips. This resource was developed with funding from the Children’s Bureau.
Tip Sheets on Recruiting Families for Preteens
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment at AdoptUSKids
View Abstract and Document
Provides strategies and principles for recruiting prospective families for preteens in foster care, preparing preteens for adoption, and developing child profiles.
Using Integrated Recruitment and Support to Build a Strong Pool of Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Families (PDF - 123 KB)
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment at AdoptUSKids (2015)
View Abstract and Document
Discusses the benefit of integrating support for foster, adoptive, and kinship families throughout recruitment and service provision.
What Is Family Finding and Permanency
Seneca Family of Agencies, National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (2017)
Explains the Family Finding model, which includes tools and strategies to locate and engage relatives and other supportive adults of children and youth in foster care.
Wendy's Wonderful Kids Research
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Presents findings from an evaluation of adoptive family recruitment strategies for children in foster care. The results indicate that child-focused recruitment models were significantly more successful than other approaches.