Overview

The African American Adoption Project, later incorporated and re-named the African American Adoption and Permanency Planning Agency, was formed in 1989 in direct response to the high and disproportionate number of African American children in Minnesota's child welfare system. AAAA is Minnesota's first full-service, non-profit adoption agency designed to move children of color from foster care to permanent families. In 1998, the agency joined Minnesota's Public Private Adoption Initiative, a collaborative effort among state, county and private agencies to reduce the number of children waiting for permanent homes. From 1998 to 2001, AAAA placed more than 260 children and lead the state's other eight private and public agencies in the recruitment and preparation of new families. In 2002, AAAA was awarded a National Adoption Excellence award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS award recognized AAAA for its public awareness efforts. AAAA serves prospective foster and adoptive families; birth families and waiting children. Our services are grounded in a philosophy of inclusion and partnership. AAAA does not discriminate based on race, income, age, education, profession or marital status.