Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Our annual Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace Survey is now OPEN. Each year, we measure the adoption benefits offered by organizations in the U.S. and present a Top 100 list. The survey is open until April 4. Register Now: https://lnkd.in/ddx-_UTg

The Foundation supports the hiring of adoption professionals, like Tracey, known as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters. These adoption professionals are dedicated to finding #ForeverFamilies for the longest-waiting children in foster care. That includes older children and teenagers, siblings and children with special needs. Our signature program, WWK, is a child-focused recruitment model for foster care adoption. It focuses on finding a permanent, loving family from the network of people who the children already know. This program is made possible through our supporters! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ghnGZ5pi

Pippa was adopted from foster care when she was 10 years old. Before meeting her adoptive moms Crystal and Jessica, Pippa endured severe abuse in her family of origin. Because of that, it took Pippa a very long time to trust. She now needs reassurance that her family will not leave her. “We were meant to give Pippa a life where she will only know security, only show kindness and ever only know love as our daughter,” said Crystal. “It’s up to us to continue loving her, day in and day out, until every cell in her body knows that we belong to her, that she belongs to us and our family isn’t complete if she’s not with us.” Crystal and Jessica now encourage others to consider adoption. “Do not be fooled by the words written in a child’s file,” said Jessica. “A child that may seem overwhelming or ‘too hard’ on paper may share your sense of humor and be the road to years full of laughter.” Crystal added, “It can feel, when you’re reading this information, that this child might be too hard, or there’s too much, and you’re not sure you’re prepared to handle that. And the truth is you are.” Read their #AdoptionStory: https://lnkd.in/eXycmxWv

Adoption professionals, like Cynthia, know how life-changing a #ForeverFamily can be for each child waiting in foster care. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada supports the hiring of adoption professionals, like Cynthia, known as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters. They are dedicated to finding #ForeverFamilies for the longest-waiting children in foster care. That includes older children and teenagers, siblings and children with special needs. Learn more about our work in Canada: https://lnkd.in/gHJ97Xvk

"My journey to healing was not linear." In a guest blog for the Foundation, Kayla Becker shares how her time in foster care an beyond helped her find her voice as a storyteller. Now she's sharing her story to help us find permanent, loving homes for children waiting in foster care. "Together, we can create a world where every child feels seen, heard and loved," said Kayla ???? Read her story and learn how you can help children in foster care: https://lnkd.in/ggvwE-Jd

Over the years, Autumn and Robert’s family grew through the adoptions of Melissa, Xenia, Avvy and Michelle. “My younger siblings were all put into foster homes for a couple years due to my mother’s addiction struggles and suspected abuse,” recalled Autumn. “They all went to good, loving, kind foster homes. I knew at the age of 14 that I wanted to be one of those good foster homes one day.” Growing up without knowing his father, Robert shared a similar vision. He wanted to be a father to the fatherless. Each of their children has a story. Melissa had lost her mother right before her transition to college. “She was going to need a mom to navigate these transitions into adulthood as well as needing a mom for the rest of her life,” said Autumn. She then maternally adopted Melissa. The family adopted through foster care for the first time when they received a call about Xenia, an infant waiting at a hospital for a family to take her home. A couple years later, the family received another call. Two young sisters in foster care, Avvy and Michelle, needed a family they could call their own. Thank you, Autumn and Robert, for providing a safe, loving and permanent family and for sharing your story with the Foundation! ??: Autumn

Have you heard the news!? We recently celebrated that more than 15,000 youth across the United States and Canada have been adopted with help from our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program! That’s 15,000 children and teens who now have a permanent family to love and support them as they learn and grow. This would not be possible without our generous community. In recognition of this milestone, a group of donors is matching all gifts, up to $15,000, so we can help even more youth in 2025. Double your gift today: https://lnkd.in/guHCevvE

Does your organization offer benefits for employees who choose to grow their families through adoption? Every year, our Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace Survey recognizes organizations that strive to make adoption and foster care supported options for every working parent. By completing the survey, all participants receive a benchmark report via an interactive dashboard that shows how the organization ranks by size, by industry and overall. Organizations can opt into a shared database to access full benefit details of the other participants. All participants that offer any type of benefit will be recognized with a digital badge that can be displayed on social media, website or printed materials. Register and complete the survey by April 4: https://lnkd.in/ddx-_UTg

Thank you, WCMH-TV, NBC4, nbc4i.com, for sharing our recent milestone of 15,000 adoptions ?? Because of our Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, children like Samantha now have safe, loving and permanent families. Access and share the story: https://lnkd.in/gRuSsnis

We are excited to share that more than 15,000 children now have permanent families with help from the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program across the United States and Canada ?? “Today, we celebrate the collective impact of our caring community, and thank YOU for your dedication to ensuring that every child has the safety and stability of a permanent, loving family," said Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gvjvJSbM