What’s new or different about foster care and adoption in this project?
Iowa has a strong foster care and adoption program. This project was developed by the Department of Human Services to make it even better – by bundling all the existing services under one contract to reduce confusion, to make it easier for families to get and stay involved and to help serve children more successfully. The Recruitment and Retention Project includes activities and services that were previously offered separately by different providers and DHS staff. The project includes recruitment, background checks, orientation, home studies (licensing and relicensing) and matching and support services for foster and adoptive families. Relative home studies and connections between foster children and birth families are also offered to facilitate reunification and life-long connections. The project has clear performance targets to ensure consistent, improved outcomes for resource families and children in out-of-home care statewide. It is operated by a new statewide network of agencies a
