Power of Story Virtual Focus Group Questions

Virtual Focus Group Questions

Thank you for helping us start on the right foot as we launch Power of Story! Your answers to these questions are so impactful!
How important is it for foster youth and adoptees to have accurate and age-appropriate knowledge of their own history?*

1

2

3

4

5

1 is NOT important, 5 is VERY important
How are you connected to the world of foster care / adoption?*

MN County Worker/Mananager/SupervisorFoster youth or Former Foster YouthAdopteeBirth ParentFoster ParentAdoptive ParentNonprofit or Independent Adoption or Foster Care Professional (social worker, GAL, CASA, therapist, etc.).Community member (no other connection to adoption or foster care)
Did you receive either of the following (for yourself or your child)?*

Lifebook / Life Story Book (Photo and Story Book about an adoptee/foster youth's life)Social and Medical History (Text document about an adoptees/foster youth's birth parents, placement and medical history)I don't know or I didn't receive either.
Tell me about the quality and helpfulness of the Lifebook / Life Story Book received.
Length, ages covered, what subjects were touched on or avoided?
Tell me about the quality and helpfulness of the Social and Medical History received.
Length, accessibility, truthfulness, what subjects were touched on or avoided?
What would be important to YOU if someone was completing a Lifebook or Social and Medical History about your or your child's life?
If you couldn't find the answers yourself, what would you want to know (or have your child know)?
What should children know about their history as they grow?
Time before foster care or adoption, or more current/updated information?
What should children know about their birth family as they grow?
Medical history, stories, genealogy, etc?
If you have worked on a lifebook or Social and Medical History, tell me about your experience.
What was most challenging? Most rewarding? What would have been nice to have help with?
What questions would YOU like answered in a history like this?

I have my own questions.I want to check off common responses from other adoptees and foster care that are true for me. *trigger warning
I would like these questions answered in a history like this:
*Let us hear any that would have been or are currently important to you.
If it was for me, I would like these questions answered in a history like this. *check all that apply.

Am I like my birth parents?Are my birth parents okay (healthy, safe)?Are my birth parents still alive?Did I have a different name when I was born?Did I have friends when I was younger?Did my birth parents have any special things we did together?Did my birth parents know my adoptive family?Did my birth parents love me?Did my birth parents marry anyone else after I was born?Did my birth parents see me or hold me?Did my birth parents want to keep me?Did my old foster parents care about me?Did my parents speak the same language as me?Do any birth family members have allergies (foods, animals, bees)?Do I have any siblings? Do they know about me?Do my birth parents want to see me again?Did I have visits with my birth parents when I was in foster care?Do my birth parents have any special talents, hobbies, or interests?Do my birth parents know how I am doing?Do twins run in my birth family?Does anyone in the family wear glasses?Does my birth mom/ birth dad think of me on my birthday?Has my birth family had a lot of dental work?Have my birth parents ever checked on me?How did my birth parents do in school?How long was I in foster care?How long was I with each foster parent?How long was my birth mom in labor for?How old was I when I started crawling? Walking? Talking?How old were my birth parents when I was born?How old were my birth relatives when they passed away?If I called my birth parents or wanted to meet them someday, what would they do?If I meet my birth parents, what should I call them?Were my birth parents married when I was born?Were my foster parents nice?Were there any problems when I was born?What was my birth parents first car?What are my birth parents’ first and middle names?What did my birth parents want to be when they grew up?What do my birth parents look like?What dreams did my birth parents’ have for me?What hospital was I born at?What is my ethnic/racial background?What kind of students were my birth parents?What kinds of jobs do people in my birth family have?What medical conditions run in the family?What medical issues do I need to know about?What memories do my birth parents have with me?What memories do my foster parents have with me?What religion are my birth parents?What schools did I go to?What things did I inherit from my birth parents (personality, looks, talents)?What time was I born?What was my birth parents first job?What was my first word?What were my foster parent and sibling names?What were the circumstances surrounding my placement?Where did I live when I was in foster care?Where did my birth parents go to college?Where did my birth parents go to high school?Where did my birth parents grow up?Where did my birth parents meet?Who decided I couldn’t live with my birth parents?Who is my birth father and what is he like?Who is my birth mother and what is she like?Who knows about me in my birth family?Who was present at my birth?Why did I come into foster care?Who do I look like?Why did my birth parents place me for adoption?Why was I named what I was when I was born?Other
What would it have meant for you to have some of these questions answered? At what point would you have wanted to know these answers?
What are the most important questions to have answered? Are there other questions we missed? What else would you have wanted to know?
To the best of your knowledge, at your county, do you have...? *check all that apply.*

A staff person who specializes in LifebooksA staff person who specializes in Social Medical HistoriesA current contract with an organzation that completes Lifebooks for your youth.A current contract with an organization that completes Social Medical Histories for your youth.No current dedicated staff person, because our direct workers complete Lifebooks and Social Medical Histories as needed.No current dedicated staff person, but are looking to add one soon.No current contract with an organization that completes SMH or Lifebooks.Other
Would you be interested in learning more about...? *check all that apply and please add your email below and we'll follow up with you.

The research behind the importance of youth having accurate, age apporpriate informationMN rules and regulations around Social Medical Histories (SMH)Lifebook contract options and ratesSocial Medical History+ contract options and ratesWorkshops for your staff about SMH's and LifebooksWorkshops for your foster/adoptive families about SMH's and LifebooksWorkshops for your youth (15+) about understanding more of their life storyOther
What else should we keep in mind as we dream about this new organization focused on bringing the power of story to the world of adoption and foster care?
Is it a good idea? Is this important? How can we do it right?
Can I quote you on that?*

Yes, with my nameYes, but only anonymouslyNo
Name

First NameLast Name
Keep me in the loop!
OPTIONAL: example@example.com
Should be Empty: