The Center for the Adoption and Family Well-Being is a research center housed inside the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work. This Center emerged from a partnership with Oklahoma Human Services to support and strengthen adoption, guardianship, and post-adoption practice in the state of Oklahoma.
The Center for Adoption and Family Well-Being is a newly established research center dedicated to the study of adoption and permanency operating under the Child Welfare Impact Institute. We strive to explore the challenges and experiences of children and youth transitioning from foster care to adoption and guardianship, as well as the impacts of adoption into adulthood. By engaging in collaborative partnerships and leveraging research insights, we aim to influence child welfare policy, improve post-adoption support, and build strong cross-system connections among child welfare, mental health, and related services. A key aspect of our focus and research is centering the adoptee voice. We believe that understanding and prioritizing the perspectives of those with lived experiences is crucial for guiding research and shaping effective policies and practices.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to impact the permanency and post-adoption landscape in Oklahoma by advancing research to expand evidence-based and evidence-informed best practices for adoption and guardianship, shaping policy and practice, and integrating the perspectives of those with lived experience across all systems of support.
Mission Statement
We focus on exploring the experiences of children and youth in transition from foster care to adoption and guardianship to drive impactful policy changes and enhance support systems. By partnering with state and national initiatives, we aim to enhance post-adoption support, build cross-system collaboration among child welfare, mental health, and related services, and prioritize the lived experience in guiding our research and impact.
Email: bgoodwin@ou.edu
Email: sierramcclendon@ou.edu
