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Despite progress, experts say there is “still a long way to go” when it comes to the adoption process. This includes protecting the safety of young people in foster care who are waiting for loving, permanent families.
The Selfless Love Foundation’s national think tank is a collection of changemakers working to improve the foster care hiring process in this country. At the annual conference held in October, young people Participants will include people with experience in foster care, as well as child welfare leaders and policy makers from more than 30 states.
national think tank This is a strategic plan to influence federal policy and state-level actions to transform the foster care adoption process to best serve children.
Facilitate the integration of adopted children into families
Following the think tank in October 2025, principal investigators at the University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall will develop a roadmap and actionable next steps for each state.
In preparation for National Adoption Month in November, I spoke with Ashley Brown, founder and CEO of Selfless Love. She and her husband founded the nonprofit 10 years ago in 2015. And she said being adopted at a young age “changed the trajectory” of her life. she has participated “American Newsroom” Several times. Read her thoughtful answers to some important questions.
Q: How does the United States care for foster care and encourage adoption?
Ashley Brown: As a nation, we have made progress, but we still have a long way to go. Many people would be surprised to know that in most statesPhotos of children eligible for adoption will be published online.
While this approach to adoption may have made sense before, evolution of the internet — can also put young people at risk.
In Florida, the Selfless Love Foundation worked with young people to help pass a law that protects images of children from public view. We also give children ages 12 and older a say in the photos and information shared on adoption sites.
A national think tank devoted an entire day to this particular issue. We also considered adoption recruitment and post-adoption. support for familybecause the goal is persistence, not just placement of children.
“There is no federal law, and there is no state law that is very limited, that even gives young people the right to choose how they are represented in adoption recruitment,” said Ashley Brown, founder of the Selfless Love Foundation. (St. Petersburg)
Q: What are the biggest obstacles to further progress?
brown: One of the biggest obstacles to progress is the lack of federal protection policies. children’s privacy And to give them a voice in how they are represented.
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Each state must make its own decisions, and young people generally lack concrete rights and protections. They are the experts and decisions that affect them most must include them.
Q: What research and lessons from national think tanks could foster significant progress?
brown: Most notable was the lack of protection for children during the adoption process. There is no federal law that even gives young people the right to choose how they are represented in adoption recruitment, and state laws are very limited.
“Rights, adoption, and post-adoption support are interconnected. You can’t fix one without strengthening the others.”
This gap highlights how far we have to go and where to start.
It also reminds us that rights, recruitment, and post-adoption support are related. You can’t fix one thing without strengthening the other.
Ashley Brown (not pictured) said: “The most immediate and achievable step is to support legislation that gives young people the right to choose how they are represented in adoption recruitment.” (St. Petersburg)
Q: What can the Legislature do over the next 12 months to affect change?
brown: The most immediate and achievable step is support bill This gives young people the right to choose how they represent themselves in adoption recruitment and protects their privacy, dignity and safety.
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Chapin Hall researchers will produce a report on key findings from the national think tank that will help state and federal leaders better understand the importance of youth rights in adoption.
Leaders from more than 30 states recently gathered at the Selfless Love Foundation’s national think tank to address some of the biggest challenges that exist in the foster care and adoption process. (St. Petersburg)
Q: How can Americans help children in foster care or who age out of the system?
brown: One of the themes we heard over and over again at the National Think Tank was the power of community. Children in foster care or those who have aged out of foster care need to know that they have support and that people care.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Selfless Love Foundation is able to offer this national think tank free of charge, including scholarships covering youth education. travel and accommodation.
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The best thing people can do is to allow more young people to participate in events like this. There their voices will be heard, their experiences will be valued and they will be part of system change.
In the absence of national standards, vulnerable children are left without clear protection.
We already recognize a child’s right to choose adoption.
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Extending this principle to how they are portrayed is a matter of policy integrity and fairness. If you would like to help or find out more, anyone can visit selfless love foundation.org.
