In 1997 NYSCCC was awarded a three-year Adoption Opportunities grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to use computer technology to support member parent groups in their activities to promote sustainable, loving placements for children in need of families, and provide support for adoptive and foster families and children. The CoalitioNet project design was based on the premise that groups of committed and well-informed adoptive and foster parents could make significant contributions to meet NYS foster children's needs for permanency and adoptive families' needs for support.

Though adoptive and foster parent groups are widely recognized as effective recruiters and supporters of new adoptive families, NYS parent group leaders often reported that they were hampered in their ability to participate fully in group activities due to demanding family schedules and geographic barriers. Increasingly, group leaders asked for assistance with computers and use of the internet in order to develop more efficient ways of communicating with their members, their counterparts throughout the state, and others in the adoption and foster care community. NYSCCC planned to build on its leadership and expertise in working with diverse parent groups and use innovative technology to capitalize on the potential of the groups themselves to provide vitally needed adoption support services. Thus, the principal objective of the three-year project: "to use computer technology to increase the competency, effectiveness, and participation of New York State parent groups to enable them to deliver adoption support, recruitment, and advocacy services, hence increasing adoptive placements in New York State and reducing the potential for adoption disruptions.

"Each year of the grant, parent groups from around the state were invited to submit a proposal for project participation and funding. The 26 local parent groups with successful proposals were awarded $1,500, a laptop computer, and training and technical support from NYSCCC. CoalitioNet project services to grantees and parent groups statewide included communication, networking, and education via the internet; three annual two-day statewide adoption training conferences; distribution of print newsletters and training materials; technical training conferences and workshops; and ongoing telephone and online technical assistance.

NYS Citizens' Coalition for Children, Inc.
410 East Upland Road • Ithaca, NY 14850
607-272-0034 • office@nysccc.org
rev:8/04/04