The model
WENDY’S WONDERFUL KIDS CHILD-FOCUSED RECRUITMENT STRATEGY
The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids strategy is to focus exhaustively on an individual child’s history, experiences and needs in order to find an appropriate adoptive family.Tactics of the child-focused recruitment strategy include:
- Initial child referral: Contact the child’s caseworker to introduce the role of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, gather initial referral information, establish date to begin case file review and schedule initial meeting with child.
- Relationship with child: Meet with the child in person, monthly at a minimum, to develop trust and openness.
- Case record review: Conduct an in-depth review of the existing case file. An exhaustive case record review may take several days. The recruiter will develop a system to document:
- Date and reason child entered the system
- Child’s most recent profile/assessment
- Chronological placement history
- Significant services provided currently or in the past
- Identification of needed services
- All significant people in the child’s life past and present; including caseworker, foster parent, attorney, CASA volunteer, teacher, therapist, relative, mentor, faith-based representative, extracurricular activity leader, etc.
- Next court date
- Diligent search: Implement the ongoing and intensive process of identifying, locating, and contacting persons with whom the child already has or had a bond or positive relationship with the knowledge and approval of the child’s caseworker.
- Assessment: Determine the child’s strengths, challenges, desires, preparedness for adoption and whether the child has needs that should be addressed before moving forward with the adoption process. If so, work with the child’s caseworker to assure these needs are met. A written assessment should be developed initially and updated quarterly to enhance the child-focused recruitment plan.
- Adoption preparation: Assure that the child is prepared for adoption. During the matching process, assure that the family is adequately prepared to meet the needs of the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids child.
- Network-building: Meet with persons close to and knowledgeable about the child (caseworker, foster parent, attorney, CASA volunteer, teacher, therapist, relative, mentor, faith-based representative, extracurricular activity leader, etc.) and maintain regular and ongoing contact. to facilitate recruitment activities. Monthly contact with the child’s caseworker is essential.
- Recruitment plan: Based on the file review, interviews with significant adults, and the input of the child, develop a comprehensive recruitment plan or enhance the existing recruitment plan. The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter’s plan for each child will be customized and defined by the child’s needs. The plan will be reviewed regularly and updated quarterly.
Click here to read the Child Focused Recruitment Guide. Read the ground-breaking five-year research study on Wendy’s Wonderful Kids.
