- Home
- » Achieving and Maintaining Permanency
- » Adoption from Foster Care
- » Recruiting and Retaining Adoptive Parents
- » Recruiting Families
- » Diligent Recruitment
Diligent Recruitment
Find resources in this section on diligent recruitment of families for children in foster care, including information on compliance with the Multiethnic Placement Act, as amended (MEPA); and Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Adoption Opportunities: Diligent Recruitment of Families for Children in the Foster Care System
AdoptUSKids
Presents information about the projects and materials created under cooperative agreements awarded to eight grantees in 2008 and to seven grantees in 2010 through the Children's Bureau's Adoption Opportunities grant program.
Compliance With the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994, as Amended, and Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Children's Bureau & National Child Welfare Resource Center for Adoption
Presents a two-part video presentation designed to address compliance with the Multiethnic Placement Act, as amended (MEPA).
Resources for Diligent and Targeted Recruitment
Children's Bureau Express, 9(6), 2008
Links to resources offering ideas, promising practices, and strategies for States and agencies seeking effective ways to recruit adoptive and foster parents who reflect the communities from which children in foster care come.
Diligent Recruitment Projects on AdoptUSKids Site
Children's Bureau Express, 11(4), 2011
Spotlights the activities of one Diligent Recruitment grantee, Kentucky's Project MATCH (Making Appropriate and Timely Connections for Children).
Federal Laws Impacting Adoption Recruitment and Placement (PDF - 293 KB)
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Adoption
Answers questions about MEPA compliance.
A Guide to the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 as Amended by the Interethnic Provisions of 1996
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1998)
Assembles provisions, common questions, and checklists for implementation.
MEPA/IEAP
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
In Child Welfare Policy Manual
Provides Federal interpretations of MEPA in a question-and-answer format. Responses were initiated by State child welfare agencies' inquiries.
Diligent Recruitment Resources & Reports
AdoptUsKids
Presents a compilation of online resources addressing the topic of diligent recruitment available from the Children's Bureau and other national organizations.
Making MEPA-IEP Work: Tools for Professionals
McRoy, Mica, Freundlich, & Kroll
Child Welfare, 86(2), 2007
View Abstract
Explores the background of MEPA, describes the disparate outcomes for children of color in the child welfare system, and identifies agency challenges in finding permanent families for African-American children. Tools are provided for successfully recruiting families while following MEPA and avoiding potentially discriminatory practices in placement decision-making.
Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA)
Portland State University Child Welfare Partnership (2007)
Provides training materials for a course about MEPA for all child welfare staff who place children in substitute care, including foster care and adoptions, as well as their supervisors.