On March 25, 2011, eighteen experts in adoption and family policy met at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government to probe ways to eliminate barriers that prevent children in foster care from being adopted. Participants included academics, advocates, government officials, foundation leaders, former frontline caseworkers, and adoptive parents. The recommendations from this panel became the blueprint for the work of Listening to Parents.
Richard Barth – Dean, University of Maryland, School of Social Work
Judy Cockerton – Treehouse Foundation
Thomas M. Crea – Assistant Professor, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work
Nicole Dobbins – Executive Director, Voice for Adoption
Sharen Ford – Manager, Permanency Services, Colorado Department of Human Services
Lauren Frey – Project Director for Permanency Services, Casey Family Services
Sarah Gerstenzang – Executive Director, New York State Citizens’ Coalition for Children
Mary Eschelbach Hansen – Associate Professor of Economics and adoption researcher, American University
Elaine Kamarck – Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School
Jeff Katz – Founder, Listening to Parents
Joe Kroll – Executive Director, North American Council on Adoptable Children
Natalie Lyons – Vice President and Center Director, National Resource Center for Adoption
Ruth McRoy – Professor, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work
Jennifer Perry – Children’s Action Network
Rita Soronen – President and CEO, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Kim Stevens – Project Manager, Community Champions Network, North American Council on Adoptable Children
Kathleen Strottman- Executive Director, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute
Julie Boatright Wilson – Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at Harvard Kennedy School
Funders
We are grateful for the financial support of all our funders. Our foundation supporters include:
- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
- Estelle Friedman Gervis Family Foundation
- Horace and Amy Hagedorn Fund
