2023 Open Arms Challenge

Thank you for joining us and for taking the first steps toward increasing the welcoming practices at your organization. 

During the month of March, we encourage you to watch, learn and collaborate with each other in this group. If you’ve been a participating organization in one of our previous challenges, we’re changing things up a little this time to help you maximize your time (and not have TOO many meetings). 

 

Weekly Community Conversations on Mondays at 11am PT

Each Monday in the month of March, the Community Conversations weekly national calls will be used in place of our huddles. Register for the call here: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration All calls will be recorded and shared here in case you’re unable to make it to the meeting. Here is the upcoming call schedule:

• March 6: Open Arms Challenge Kickoff - Prior Winners Panel

• March 13: Barrier Free Foster Program

• March 20: Leading Staff & Volunteers Through Change to Embrace Barrier Free Practices

• March 27: Addressing Bias

 

Watch previous Open Arms Challenge huddles

If you need some inspiration or ideas about each of the welcoming practices and action/items, here are links to watch recordings of the previous huddles from the 2022 Open Arms Challenge:

• An Informed Approach to Trauma

• How to be Open to New Ideas

• How to Get Your Entire Community Involved

• Cultivating Open Relationships

• Welcoming Customer Service

• How to Market to Your Entire Community

• Marketing Partnerships in the Community

• A Welcoming Culture Starts With You

• Embracing a Welcoming Culture

• Creating Partnerships with Animal Welfare Organizations

• Creating Partnerships with Community Organizations

 

Take Self-Paced Courses in Maddie’s University or Watch Webcasts and Earn Continuing Education Credits

• Community Partnerships

• Customer Service for Animal Shelters

• Open Cat Adoptions: Keep Them Moving, Get Them Home

• Open Dog Adoptions: Eliminating Roadblocks to Positive Outcomes

• Pet Support Services

• Webcast: The Power of Yes: Three things to do today to open the kennel doors and send animals home

• Webcast: Adoption Requirements vs. Open Adoptions: A Conversation

• Webcast: Overcoming Adoption Barriers: Where Marketing Meets Policy

• Webcast: Judgment-Free Zones - Building Relationships to Keep Dogs in Homes

• Webcast: Innovation and Emerging Practices in Adoption Counseling

 

Browse Additional Resources

Explore a variety of resources from challenge partners and others in the field. These are split into each of the welcoming practices categories: https://www.maddiesfund.org/open-arms-challenge-resources.htm

 

Learn More from Previous Challengers

• Speaking Your Community’s Language with Translation Services

• Welcoming Adoption Practices on Any Budget

• How these 2022 Open Arms Challenge winners improved their community engagement

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Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
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