Adopting.org Discussion Forums

Online education resources for those seeking to adopt or foster, adoptive and foster parents, searchers, and adoption professionals includes formal online training and courses, as well as resources for offline education.

Continue reading Education & Training

I honestly wish that more information had been available to me when I began my career as an adoption professional. While I was simply a fundraiser (coordinator of grants, etc.) and an advocate for the agency for which I worked, I always felt segregated from the rest of the agency -- particularly those that were working "in the field" -- and as if there were not enough resources available to me becuase I wasn't part of the "hands-on" team. And because the need was so great for funding, and they were SO desperate when they hired me initially to begin the work, I didn't have an adjustment period or chance to learn as much as I wanted.

I think this is a common problem in agencies for all positions. I've said it before, but professionals need to take more time and DEMAND more time from supervisors and coordinators to learn as much as they can about adoption and to make use of the many resources that are out there. Otherwise how can we best serve the important parents, children and families for whom we work? And while it is common to say "I'll do it when there is more time," or "I'll do it when there is a lull," I think the reality is, that lull never comes. The demand for work is never-ending. But I certainly think things would run more efficiently if professionals would take the time to educate themselves and make themselves knowledgable about the world around them! I know I'm taking some time today to look at all the wonderful resources provided above, and hopefully it will make me better at my job!