Annual Report
Pact: A Different Kind of Adoption Organization
We are eager to share with you how Pact advanced an ethical, child-centered, anti-racist approach to adoption in 2023-2024. Read our full Annual Report here. Some highlights included:
Pact Family Camps
Pact Family Camps provide transformative learning and community-building experiences. In 2024, Pact hosted two five-day residential Pact Family Camps for adopted children of color and their families, serving a total of 581 youth and adult campers. Adult adoptees and former foster youth of color made up 73% of the mentors who worked with the children. Families led by BIPOC adoptive parents made up 31% of the attending, and 27% of the families were attending for the first time. Twenty-nine low- and moderate-income families received fee subsidies that made it possible for them to attend Pact Family Camp.
Adoptive Parents of Color Collective
The needs of BIPOC adoptive and foster parents have been under-served in the field of adoption, where white parents’ needs are given priority. In 2024, Pact’s Adoptive Parents of Color Collective conducted a national survey of adoptive/foster parents of color. By directly asking BIPOC adoptive parents what they need, APCC can not only better serve BIPOC-led adoptive families, but make the case for change in the entire adoption community. The survey had 114 respondents from across the US; 48% of respondents had not yet participated in APCC programs. Those who had participated in APCC programs uniformly reported that the experience was valuable. Under the leadership of new APCC director Raquel Vivanco, participation in revitalized Pact/APCC programming increased threefold in 2023-24.
Center for Race & Adoption Focused Therapy
Children and youth across the United States are experiencing a mental health crisis, which is only exacerbated by the complexity of adoption. In 2024, the adoption-sensitive therapists of color at Pact’s Center for Race & Adoption Focused Therapy provided services to 45 client individuals and families for a total of 860 therapy hours. Demand is high; all CRAFT therapists have waiting lists. Nine transition-age clients received 168 hours of therapy, all of whom received substantial subsidies.
Education & Support Programs
Adoption doesn’t end at placement—in fact, it’s just getting started. Pact offers education, community and support to adopted people of color and their families on the lifelong journey of adoption. Two new support groups were launched, for BIPOC Parents of Adopted Teens & Young Adults and for LGBTQ+ Adoptive Parents. Pact’s support groups create safe spaces for 85-100 individuals each month (over 1,000 engagements a year). In 2024, Pact offered 12 webinars that reached 444 participants, and 11 professional development trainings that reached over 500 professionals and 50 parents. Pact provided individual consultations to 65 parents and 2 adult adoptees, and through its “Share the Love” campaign, awarded over 60 free one-year memberships to individuals and families joining Pact for the first time.
Ethical, Anti-Racist Adoption Practice
Pact became a licensed CA adoption agency in order to model an honest, child-centered, anti-racist approach to adoption. In 2024 Pact provided free counseling to 21 expectant parents considering adoption, provided information to several hundred individuals about the process of placing a child for adoption, and worked with 51 parents of color hoping to adopt.
Pact continues to work for systemic change in adoption on a state and national level. Executive Director Beth Hall was elected President of the California Adoption Agency Association, providing a platform to advocate for improvements and reforms to adoption practices statewide. Pact’s Agency & Clinical Director Susan Dusza Guerra Leksander was a member of the group that helped Planned Parenthood Federation of America update the information about adoption they provide to the public.
Those are just some of the highlights of a busy and productive year. To learn more, please see the full 2023-24 annual report below.
