NCFA Media : Press Releases

HHS Awards National Council For Adoption $6.1 Million Grant To Promote Adoption Awareness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Lee Allen
(703) 535-1919
Mobile (24/7): 301-693-6513
FAX: 703-535-1901
Email: lallen@infantadopt.org

Washington, DC, October 22, 2001-- Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced last week the release of a $6.1 million grant to the Washington DC-based National Council For Adoption (NCFA), one of America's leading adoption and child welfare organizations. In announcing the four groups that won grants under the Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program, Secretary Thompson said: "These grants are an important step in making sure that every pregnant woman who is considering her alternatives understands the benefits of adoption." Founded in 1980, the mission of the National Council For Adoption is to promote the well-being of children, birthparents, and adoptive families by presenting the positive option of adoption.

NCFA President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Purtill said of the award: "This is an important initiative and we are looking forward to working with the Congress, HHS, and the adoption community in making the goal of promoting adoption awareness a reality." Purtill succeeded retired NCFA president William Pierce, after serving as president of the Washington Scholarship Fund, a private foundation providing scholarships to low-income children in Washington, DC.

The NCFA grant was awarded as part of the Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program, included in the Children's Health Act of 2000. Congress created this training program to promote pregnancy counseling that provides women adoption information and referrals on an equal basis with other alternatives.

The grant funds a national training program for health workers and pregnancy counselors that will instruct them in the adoption process and help prepare them to counsel pregnant women. The first phase of the project is the development of an adoption counseling curriculum based on best-practice guidelines created by HHS, in consultation with 29 experts in the fields of adoption, child welfare, health services, and counseling.

About NCFA

Since 1980, the NCFA has been a leading voice among national child adoption and welfare organizations. NCFA is a research, education, and advocacy nonprofit that provides adoption information, promotes ethical adoption practices, works to shape public policy and legislation regarding adoption issues, and serves as a continuing resource to women with unplanned pregnancies, adoptive families, and those seeking to adopt.

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