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Vol. 12 November 2021

Institute News

The latest news, successes stories, and updates
At the Institute, we believe innovation starts with an idea.

In this monthly newsletter you'll find ideas you can use. Whether you're a member of a family in need, a child welfare professional, or a caring member of the community, we strive to bring the most practical, informative, and heartwarming content straight to your inbox.
Looking Inward

Over the past month, our team at the Institute has been “doing the work” on our own working culture, relationships, and environment; continuing to bolster our commitment to a kind and trusting agency culture. We've been having a blast working through the Dare to Lead book and curriculum from the inspiring Brené Brown. In addition we attended a workshop using the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator to explore our own personality types, and how they interact with one another, gaining insight into our working relationships.
Dare to Lead

As you may have gathered from the name of our agency, innovation is our bread and butter. And if we're going to do that well we have to be brave leaders. As we've been working through Dare to Lead, by Brené Brown, and it's collaborative curriculum, we've been exploring our team's ability to be vulnerable with one another, and how not to avoid difficult conversations for the sake of tranquility.
We've learned how to appreciate what each other brings to the table, how to recognize when we or others are feeling shame, and how to truly use empathy as a guiding principle. Becoming brave leaders requires skill building and we can absolutely attest to the powerful, practical, and foundational tools found in the the Dare to Lead program. We encourage you to try it for yourself!

"Leadership is not about titles or the corner office. It's about the willingness to step up, put yourself out there, and lean into courage. The world is desperate for brave leaders. It's time for all of us to step up."
-Brené Brown
Enneagrams

The Enthusiast, the Reformer, the Peacemaker, and the Helper. These four primary personality types are what make up our team. After we each took the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator, our entire team spent a day last month working with Sandy, at the Educare Unlearning Institute, unpacking our results, and learning how our various personality types become expressed when we're at our best, and sometimes when we're not at our best. Understanding our personality types is not diagnostic, nor an end-all / be-all for completely understanding understanding ourselves.
This work has given our team incredible insight into each others' working styles, thought processes, and priorities when collaborating. The reflections have already been invaluable!

Can you guess which of the personality types belongs to each member of our team? Which personality type are you!?
1. https://medium.com/swlh/the-enneagram-personality-typing-system-473d9b5d571b 
On Wednesday, November 3rd, the Institute is bringing together teams from every one of our active 30 Days to Family® replication sites for a collaborative learning, connecting, and resource sharing session. Collectively the sites represent a diverse, immensely skilled group of passionate Specialists, Supervisors, and agency leadership.
We can't wait to see the success stories, insights, and support that these amazing people share with one another.
November is National Adoption Month

In our last newsletter, we highlighted that National Adoption Month was approaching in November, and now it's here! At the Institute, we're all in on this years theme of "Every Conversation Matters," a movement to encourage front line practitioners to actively engage with youth on their caseloads on a daily basis, in all aspects of their case planning. For far too long the norm has been for child welfare professionals to talk "to" youth and children, and not "with" them.
Partnering with children and families, instead of treating them strictly as clients, is key to achieving positive outcomes.

But don't take our word for it! The webinar video below, created for National Adoption Month 2021, features youth with lived experience and professionals discussing:
  • How youth engagement is essential to achieving permanency for teens.
  • Tips for authentically listening to and engaging young people.
  • How to incorporate youth voice into practice.
  • Information about resources and materials available from the Child Welfare Information GatewayAdoptUSKids, and Children's Bureau grantees.
And to check out more, head to the National Adoption Month homepage by clicking here!
This year, National Adoption Month focuses on teen adoption and engaging youth in permanency planning. The theme for the 2021 initiative, "Every Conversation Matters," recognizes that authentic youth engagement depends on building solid relationships, which can begin with a single conversation. This 90-minute webinar provides child welfare professionals with tips to incorporate youth engagement in daily practice.
Institute CEO Ian Forber-Pratt to participate in Angels in Adoption® Panel

Every year, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, facilitates the Angels in Adoption® Leadership Program and Gala.
This event celebrates the efforts of individuals, couples, families, and organizations who work tirelessly to advocate for children in need of a family. We're excited that this year, on Wednesday, November 3rd, Ian Forber-Pratt will be participating in a panel discussing "Adoption and Family." This panel will help identify barriers to youth and children achieving permanency. We're honored to be a part of these important conversations.
Always keep up on our latest adventures at www.forchildwelfare.org.
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Until next month, we wish you hope, health, and well-being.

The Institute Team
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