In this section you will find State and local examples of promising practices for recruiting foster and adoptive families.
Diligent Recruitment (PDF - 1,699 KB)
Kansas Department for Children and Families (2019)
Shares the comprehensive diligent recruitment plan and program developed by the Kansas Department for Children and Families, foster care and adoption contracted providers, and faith-based and community organization leaders.
Extraordinary Foster Parents in Los Angeles County: Child Welfare Initiative's Implementation of Best Practices in Recruiting and Retaining New Therapeutic Foster Parents (PDF - 1,445 KB)
Child Welfare Initiative (2015)
Presents the findings of a study that explores the motivations of extraordinary foster parents in Los Angeles County.
Foster and Adoptive Parent Recruitment Retention Plan (PDF - 500 KB)
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (2019)
Highlights Nebraska's proposed ideas, strategies, activities, and coordination efforts related to the recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive parents.
NC’s New Plan for Recruiting (and Retaining!) Families for Children in Foster Care
The Family and Children's Resource Program (2017)
Reviews the State’s new diligent recruitment and retention plan through a 90-minute webinar, making it clear what the next steps will be at the State and local levels and what the concrete implications and requirements are for public and private agencies.
Research Summary: Supporting, Retaining & Recruiting Resource Families (PDF - 1,597 KB)
Public Child Welfare Training Academy, San Diego State University School of Social Work (2015)
Features promising practices around recruitment, including lessons learned from recruiting resource families for Washington State’s children in care.
Revitalizing Recruitment: Practical Strategies for Finding and Keeping Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Homes (PDF - 10,107 KB)
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (2015)
Helps professionals navigate the challenges of finding foster and adoptive families equipped to meet the needs of children and youth entering foster care.
Revitalizing Recruitment and Retention of Kinship, Foster, and Adoptive 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.
Site Videos
Quality Improvement Center for Adoption Guardianship Support and Preservation (QIC-AG)
Chronicles the implementation of the QIC-AG permanency continuum framework at eight partner sites around the country, including one Tribe. The videos include the personal accounts of the staff and families that participated in the implementation.
State of Nevada Foster Parent and Adoptive Parent Diligent Recruitment Plan (PDF - 384 KB)
Nevada Department of Children and Family Services (2014)
Reflects the activities that will be conducted over the next 5 years to ensure that there are foster and adoptive homes that meet the needs of the infants, children, youth, and young adults served by Nevada's child welfare agencies.
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services Bureau for Children and Families Recruitment and Retention Plan 2015 (PDF - 200 KB)
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services (2014)
Points out tasks related to foster and adoptive parent licensing, recruitment, and retention, including diligent recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families who reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of the children in the State who need foster and adoptive homes.