VFA Annual Adoption Award Nomination 2021 |
The Awards for Nomination:
The Drenda Lakin Memorial Award honors a state, nonprofit organization, or individual for continuing service to families who achieved permanence through adoption, guardianship, or relational permanence. This award honors an entity or individual whose program provides valuable support and services to families who have achieved permanence for children in the child welfare system through adoption, guardianship, or relational permanence.
The Breaking Barriers Adoption Award honors a state, county, tribal child welfare agency, or dedicated individual that has worked to reduce barriers to permanency for children in foster care. Award recipients have demonstrated success in reducing or eliminating geographic barriers to permanency and/or addressing systemic barriers that have created a disproportionate representation of children/youth in foster care, including children of color, older youth, and LGBTQ+ youth.
The Family Advocacy Champion Award honors a family that has chosen to use their experiences within the U.S. child welfare system to advocate for and promote permanency, including adoption, guardianship, relational permanence, or reunification in their city, state, or region through legislative testimony, participation on boards or task forces, interaction with the media, or other public outreach.
The Using My Story for Positive Change Award honors a youth who has been in the child welfare system, who uses their voice to advocate for and promote changes to practice, policy, or law within their city, state, region, or at the national level to improve the lives of foster youth and promote the connection of every child to safe, loving, and permanent families.
The Legislative Champion Award honors members of Congress and their work in a bipartisan manner on behalf of children in foster care and families that help them find permanence. This award is not always awarded annually, depending on Congressional activity and advocacy priorities.
The Breaking Barriers Adoption Award honors a state, county, tribal child welfare agency, or dedicated individual that has worked to reduce barriers to permanency for children in foster care. Award recipients have demonstrated success in reducing or eliminating geographic barriers to permanency and/or addressing systemic barriers that have created a disproportionate representation of children/youth in foster care, including children of color, older youth, and LGBTQ+ youth.
The Family Advocacy Champion Award honors a family that has chosen to use their experiences within the U.S. child welfare system to advocate for and promote permanency, including adoption, guardianship, relational permanence, or reunification in their city, state, or region through legislative testimony, participation on boards or task forces, interaction with the media, or other public outreach.
The Using My Story for Positive Change Award honors a youth who has been in the child welfare system, who uses their voice to advocate for and promote changes to practice, policy, or law within their city, state, region, or at the national level to improve the lives of foster youth and promote the connection of every child to safe, loving, and permanent families.
The Legislative Champion Award honors members of Congress and their work in a bipartisan manner on behalf of children in foster care and families that help them find permanence. This award is not always awarded annually, depending on Congressional activity and advocacy priorities.
**Nominations are due by COB Monday, October 11th, 2021.