DEI: Scope of Grant Program review
Task Team:
- Shaneetra Gross: GOA Chief Administration Officer & GOA DEI Task Force member
- Brian Murphy: GOA Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer
- Sanjay Thirumalai: GOA National Board of Governors
- Christine Davis: GOA Metro D.C. Chapter Board Member
- Michael Fleming: GOA Texas Chapter Board Member
- Karin Carli, JD: [External] Staff Attorney, Greenlight Family Services
Goals:
- With the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion; to make sure the Gift of Adoption grant program and its components do not prevent qualified adoptive families from receiving assistance.
- To review processes, practices, policies, and materials to identify opportunities for improvement and to remove any potential unconscious biases.
- To mirror the community of adoptive parents and adopted children.
Scope of Review:
- GOA ENDS Policy:
- Mission Review Status: COMPLETED by National Board September 2020.
- Vision Review Status: TO BE REVIEWED by National Board outside scope of Grant Program Review, likely in conjunction with annual National Board Meeting in October 2021.
| GOA Grant Policies and Application Scoring Matrix |
| GOA Grant Program WebPages/Grant Program Marketing Collateral |
| GOA Outreach Materials, Communications, Priorities |
| GOA Grant Application |
| GOA Communications to Applicants (pre and post-award) |
| GOA Referral Partners/Service Providers (expectations of payees of GOA grants) |
Task Team Recommendations/Findings:
- Recommendation requiring Board Approval:
- Allow non-U.S. citizens residing in U.S. to apply for grants (documented and undocumented)
- The National Board of Governors opted not to vote on this recommendation at its December 2021 meeting.
- Allow non-U.S. citizens residing in U.S. to apply for grants (documented and undocumented)
- Recommendations that do not require Board Approval (these recommendations have or are being implemented):
- Improve/expand language around relative adoptions to clarify that this is a GOA funding priority and families completing relative adoptions are encouraged to apply.
- Include DEI component to GSC (Grant Selection Committee) training
- Add DEI/non-discriminatory language to chapter review process for tier 2 grant recommendations.
- Review GSC family profile/compelling story to make sure identifying information is removed.
- Have greater diversity in the pictures of adoptive parents (racial, multi-racial, same sex, single parent, etc) on the website (main page & the Need) and the grant program brochure
- Provide DEI-focused resources for applicants
- Include specific outreach activities directed to diverse populations in addition to those where restricted funding is available (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, People w/ Disabilities, Etc)
- Consider developing a position statement to include on website and in grant payment communications to convey:
- Gift of Adoption does not discriminate in providing its services.
- Gift of Adoption does not endorse ASPs that practice discrimination.
- Gift of Adoption hopes that all ASPs would adhere to non-discriminatory practices/policies.