Youth voices essential in improving foster care adoption system nationwide, says expert

Although we have made progress, “there is still a long way to go,” experts say, when it comes to the adoption process — including protecting the safety of youth who are in foster care and waiting for loving, permanent families.

The Selfless Love Foundation’s national think tank is a collective force of changemakers aiming to improve foster care adoption in this country. It brings together the annual conference held in October Youth who have foster care experience, as well as child welfare leaders and policy makers from more than 30 states.

A reservoir of national thought It is a strategic plan to influence federal policy and state action to transform the foster care adoption process to best serve children.

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Following the think tank in October 2025, principal investigators from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago will create a roadmap and actionable next steps for each state.

In honor of National Adoption Month in November, I spoke with Ashley Brown, founder and CEO of Selfless Love. She and her husband started their nonprofit 10 years ago, in 2015 — and she said being adopted as an infant “changed the course” of her life. It was on “American newsroom” Several times. Read on for her thoughtful answers to some important questions!

Question: How does the United States care for foster children and encourage adoption?

Ashley Brown: As a nation we have made progress, but we still have a long way to go. Many people will be surprised to learn this In most statesphotos of children available for adoption are publicly posted online.

While this approach to adoption recruitment may have made sense before Internet development – It can also put young people at risk.

And in Florida, the Selfless Love Foundation worked alongside young people to help pass a law protecting photos of children from public view. It also gives children ages 12 and older a say in the photos and information shared on adoption websites.

An entire day of the National Think Tank was devoted to this specific issue. We also looked at adoption and post-adoption recruitment Support for familiesas the goal is not just the status of the child – but permanence.

“There is no federal law and very limited state laws that even recognize young people’s right to choose how they are represented in the adoption recruitment process,” said Ashley Brown, founder of the Selfless Love Foundation. (Istock)

Q: What are the biggest obstacles to further progress?

brown: One of the biggest obstacles to progress is the lack of a federal policy for protection Children’s privacy And give them a voice in how they are represented.

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Each country is left to make its own decisions, and young people lack tangible rights and protection in all areas. They are the experts, and they should be involved in the decisions that affect them the most.

Q: What research or lessons learned from the National Think Tank could foster significant progress?

brown: What really stood out was the lack of protection available for children in the adoption process. There is no federal law and very limited state laws that even recognize youth’s right to choose how they will be represented in adoption recruitment.

“Rights, employment, and post-adoption support are interconnected. We can’t fix one without strengthening the others.”

This gap highlights how far we have to go and where we need to start.

It also reminds us that rights, employment, and post-adoption support are interconnected. We cannot fix one of them without strengthening the others.

“The most urgent and achievable step is to support legislation that gives young people the right to choose how they are represented in the adoption recruitment process,” said Ashley Brown (not pictured). (Istock)

Question: What can state legislatures do in the next 12 months to effect change?

brown: The most immediate and achievable step is Support legislation Which gives young people the right to choose how they are represented in adoption recruitment, and to protect their privacy, dignity and safety.

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Chapin Hall researchers will report on the national think tank’s key findings, which will help state and federal leaders better understand the importance of young people’s rights to adopt.

Leaders from more than 30 states recently gathered at the Selfless Love Foundation’s national think tank to address some of the biggest challenges found in the foster care and adoption process. (Istock)

Question: How can Americans best help children in foster care or out of the system?

brown: One theme we heard over and over at the National Think Tank was the power of community. Children in foster care and those who age out of the system need to know that they are supported and that people care about them.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Selfless Love Foundation is able to provide this national think tank at no cost, including scholarships to cover the needs of young people. Travel and accommodation.

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The best way people can help is to allow more young people to attend such events, where their voices are heard, their experiences are valued – and they are part of transforming the system.

With no national standard, we are leaving a vulnerable group of children without clear protection.

We do 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 alignment and justice. To help and learn more, anyone can visit it selflesslovefoundation.org.