Congress Funds Research on Evidence-Based Post-Adoption Services, Other Adoption Priorities
The FY 2024 year-end appropriations bill (see previous story) also included funding for the Adoption Opportunities program. Overall spending on the program rose slightly in FY 2024 to $53 million, up from $51 million in FY 2023.
The legislation included several new or continuing priorities, including:
$2 Million for Evaluating Evidence-based Post-Adoption Services: The legislation includes VFA’s request for not less than $2 million in new funding for evaluations of post-adoption services that qualify for funding under the Family First Prevention Services Act that meet the evidence standards established by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. In accompanying report language, Congress encouraged the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to prioritize the evaluation of programs with existing evidence and to support studies that can be completed as rapidly as possible while meeting the evidence standards of the clearinghouse. These competitive grant dollars are likely to become available by September. Organizations interested in applying for these funds should contact Patrick Lester, VFA’s Executive Director, at director@voice-for-adoption.org for more information. Last year’s webinar on Evidence Building and Adoption may also be of interest.
$1 Million for Adoption-Sensitive Care Training for Hospital Staff: The legislation establishes a new $1 million competitive grant program to improve access to adoption-sensitive care training for hospital staff. According to the accompanying report language, "Eligible grantees should be health care-based, nonprofit education organizations focused on adoption that partner with healthcare professionals, hospitals, and community organizations. The agreement also directs ACF to maintain a public website with the training materials and other adoption resources for healthcare workers.”
$2 Million for the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative: The legislation includes $2 million in continuation funding for the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI), which is operated by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), a VFA member.
$1 Million for the National Training and Development Curriculum: The legislation includes $1 million to extend the current grant to the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) by 12 months. The NTDC is operated by Spaulding for Children, a VFA member agency. These funds will be used to expand the curriculum for use by state and tribal child welfare agencies and provide training to ensure that private domestic adoption and inter-country adoption agencies can access and utilize NTDC’s resources.
