Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Expands Foster Care Adoption Program in Tennessee
Columbus, Ohio — The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is excited to announce a partnership with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and its implementation partner, Youth Villages, to scale the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® program in the state.
“We are thrilled to have Wendy’s Wonderful Kids in Tennessee, adding another powerful tool to support permanency for youth across the state. This partnership reflects the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services’ commitment to finding safe, stable, and loving homes for every child,” said Tennessee Department of Children’s Services Commissioner Margie Quin. “We’re grateful to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for bringing this proven, child-focused recruitment model to our state. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this initiative will have on the lives of our young people.”
This unique public-private partnership will support the hiring of adoption professionals, known as recruiters, who serve children and youth most at risk of aging out of foster care without a family. The Foundation currently supports the work of two recruiters in Tennessee, and this expansion will bring 12 more in the first year of the partnership, with hopes to add more in the future. Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters work with smaller caseloads as an additional resource on a child’s path to permanency. Those recruiters will be hired and employed by Youth Villages, but supported by a co-investment and trained by Foundation staff.
“Youth Villages has a long history of working alongside children and families across Tennessee to create lasting, positive change, and we are excited to be a part of this initiative to help more children find the safe, loving forever family they all deserve,” said Brittany Farrar, Executive Director of Youth Villages, Middle Tennessee.
Research shows that youth who age out of foster care without a family are more likely to experience homelessness, unemployment and other negative outcomes. Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters begin their search for a permanent family by conducting a diligent search within the network of adults the child already knows, including extended family members, who already care for them and can meet their needs.
A rigorous, national five-year evaluation revealed that children referred to Wendy’s Wonderful Kids are up to three times more likely to be adopted. “We are determined to bring our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program into states that are ready to partner and ready to find forever families for our longest-waiting children,” said Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. “When Tennessee raised their hand, we were eager to start expanding to ensure there are enough recruiters to serve the number of children in our focus population of teenagers, children with special needs and siblings who need a family now.”
On average, youth served by Wendy’s Wonderful Kids in Tennessee are 13 years old, have been in foster care for five years and have had more than five foster placements. Sixty-one percent are part of a sibling group and 48% have a diagnosed special need. To date, more than 15,000 children are in legally permanent homes through the Foundation’s program across the United States and Canada, including 141 finalizations in Tennessee.
“We simply cannot stop this work until our vision of a permanent home and a loving family for every child is realized,” said Soronen. “Innovative, collaborative partnerships like the one we have with the state of Tennessee are life-changing for youth, families and our communities.”
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About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national, nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding permanent homes for the more than 140,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org.