Adopting change | MAPS Worldwide reacts to international trends by developing new services
The maxims of success in the nonprofit sector have changed. Flat is the new up. Mission, not program or organization, comes first. Trends are the crystal ball. Adaptability, not growth, is the measure of success.
MAPS Worldwide, formerly Maine Adoption Placement Services, provides a great example of this wisdom in action. Adoption, nationally and internationally, is changing dramatically. For many years, international adoption was the easiest way for U.S. families to adopt. Now, many countries are closing their borders to international adoption or sending fewer children overseas, according to Stephanie Mitchell, executive director of MAPS Worldwide.
China, Kazakhstan and Russia are among the countries sending fewer children — and the waiting list for adopting a child from China is now at four years. Guatemala has stopped international adoptions altogether. The predominant philosophical belief driving child welfare and adoption has changed, too. Both in the United States and around the world, public opinion, policy and programs emphasize keeping children in biological families and birth countries whenever possible.
The impact of these trends has been so significant and sudden that within the past month MAPS Worldwide announced it was changing its strategy and operations and planned to restructure its programs and staff. Projections for international adoptions were off more than was anticipated even a year ago, when consulting firm Deloitte helped MAPS complete its strategic plan pro bono. “The operational model we developed one year ago as part of our strategic planning process, and then revised this past December, no longer supports the programs and services,” Mitchell announced in a letter to families. “We needed to regroup to keep viable,” she added.
While many adoption agencies nationally are closing their doors, MAPS Worldwide has decided to adapt by mining the silver lining and creating new opportunities from the shifts taking place. “There are a striking number of agencies that are going out of business. The fact is, it is a fascinating time,” says Mitchell. “There’s lots of opportunity to develop new services.”
Widening the focus
Over the past 33 years, MAPS Worldwide has developed relationships with adoption agencies internationally. While many of these agencies don’t participate in international adoptions, many countries are setting up child welfare systems, including in-country adoption, foster and parenting programs. Now, they are turning to MAPS Worldwide for guidance on developing these programs.
As a result MAPS has now entered a new line of business in international child welfare and training. “This year I traveled to Russia for the first time since 1991,” explains Mitchell. “I found it to be a totally different country. When I was there before, Russia had no child welfare system to speak of. But since then, they have been pouring money into child welfare. They told us, ‘We need MAPS’ experience to prepare families and train professionals.’”
With international adoptions down, the demand for adoption in the United States is greater, and more families are pursuing domestic adoption. Similarly, there are more children available for adoption, partly because of the poor economy. To meet the need, MAPS Worldwide, a $4.7 million organization, serves families beyond Maine and throughout New England. The organization has offices in Boston and Manchester, N.H., as well as Portland and Bangor. In addition, MAPS is developing comprehensive post-adoption services, which will be available to families nationally.
Maine MAPS Worldwide has also expanded its programs for birth mothers. The organization has always run two homeless shelters that serve pregnant and parenting women and their children. In addition, MAPS has developed a model program called Stepping Stones for mothers up to 25 years old who are in imminent danger of losing custody of their children. This program reflects the prevailing philosophy of doing everything possible to keep children in their communities with their birth parents before considering adoption.
A state-funded, 40-bed residential program, Stepping Stones is housed in five locations throughout the state. The program seeks to solidify unstable family relationships and to reunify children with their birth mothers by teaching young mothers parenting and life skills. The program also includes a residential infant mental health program and is committed to establishing a “wraparound” network of organizations beyond MAPS that ensures the support and success of these young families when they complete the program.
“It’s hard for any institution when the trends change, but it’s best not to fight them,” Mitchell says. “MAPS Worldwide has been very strategic in its decisions. Our mission remains permanency for children and we are focusing on that.”
Elizabeth Banwell is director of external affairs for the Maine Association of Nonprofits in Portland. She can be reached at editorial@mainebiz.biz.
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