Adoption brings a spectrum of experiences and emotions. Spark the Conversation, a facilitation guide to accompany the video When We Have Each Other: Teen Adoption Stories, is a roadmap to encourage deep conversations, create emotionally safe spaces, and center youth perspectives.
Child welfare professionals created this resource to support meaningful discussions with youth, families, and colleagues.
How to use the video and facilitation guide
The short film When We Have Each Other: Teen Adoption Stories features families sharing their adoption experiences and highlights both the challenges and the benefits of adoption. Used in conjunction with the video, facilitators can use the guide to quickly find facilitation tips, discussion questions, and helpful resources.
The video and supporting guide can help lead conversations with:
- Youth: Guide thoughtful conversations with young people experiencing foster care who may feel hesitant about adoption.
- Families: Facilitate small-group conversations with foster and pre-adoptive parents engaged in foster care or the adoption journey.
- Professionals: Lead discussions with caseworkers, supervisors, and practitioners supporting teens in foster care, and families parenting or considering foster care or adoption.
These sessions are designed for thoughtful reflection in an emotionally safe space. Conversation topics can be complex and personal, but the guide keeps facilitators on track by mapping out priorities for each participant group.
With its simple design and step-by-step approach, the guide empowers professionals to confidently lead conversations.