Minority Professional Leadership Development Program applications now open

Group picture of smiling graduates of most recent Minority Professional Leadership Development Program cohort. — Past graduates report numerous benefits to participating in the Minority Professional Leadership Development program, including earning promotions, presenting at industry conferences, discussing their research on national news programs, and more.

Applications for the 2025 cohort of the Minority Professional Leadership Development (MPLD) Program are being accepted through June 3, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

This structured, 12-month program includes hands-on experience, exposure to national experts, and mentorship opportunities. There is no fee to participate.

The fellowship begins and ends with events in Washington, DC. Most of the fellows’ work happens online and at their workplace.

The AdoptUSKids Minority Professional Leadership Development (MPLD) Program is open to people from cultural, ethnic, and racial groups who have historically had a disproportionate number of children in care, including:

American Indian Alaska Native
Black or African American
Hispanic or Latino

A past participant of the Minority Professional Leadership Development program stands in front of their research project presentation poster. — Previous cohort members’ research projects have tackled such topics as diligent recruitment, trauma, and older youth. Their action-focused proposals resulted in formation of support groups, new training materials, and fresh insights into the field of child welfare.

Program components

The program will begin in October 2024 with a kick-off celebration and meeting in Washington, DC, that includes three days of intensive skill-building and networking. Other program components are:

Action research projects that fellows design and implement in their place of work to address issues related to adoption or guardianship. Fellows will receive expert, individualized guidance to help them complete their projects.
Online structured courses in policy, practice, research, and transformational leadership.
Mentoring from leaders within the fellow’s agency and from program alumni.
Group and individual coaching that supplements the material being taught in the online courses.
A graduation ceremony in Washington, DC, where fellows present their action research projects.
An alumni network that provides long-term career support, resource-sharing, and leadership opportunities with future cohorts.

Learn about the application process and apply.