By Rita L. Soronen, President & CEO One year ago, our world changed dramatically and in ways we could never have imagined as COVID-19 spread, closing schools, shutting down businesses and leaving us with unrelenting separation and longing for the physical connection of family and friends. As the
Every day, more than 50 young people age out of foster care in the United States without the stability and security of a permanent, loving family. Before the COVID-19 crisis, one in five youth who aged out experienced homelessness and only 50% were employed at age 24. Now, many are also navigating t
Michael, Roman and Lilliana often lived in separate foster homes as their family of origin struggled with addiction. By the time the siblings were ages 9, 8 and 6, they had spent more than half their lives apart, longing for a permanent place to call home. “It was really tiring, having to pack up al
This article was originally published by Lauren Mixon from WDTN in Dayton, OH. With the holiday season upon us, many Americans tend to find themselves in a giving spirit. One group that could use some extra love and support this year is children in the foster care system. President & CEO
This article by Emma Scott Moran was originally published in The Columbus Dispatch. Despite problems created for many nonprofit groups during the coronavirus pandemic, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has continued on its mission to dramatically increase the number of children
By Rita L. Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Having a safe place to call home means everything — especially during the COVID-19 crisis. But every day, too many youth age out of foster care without ever knowing the security and stability of a forever family. With
Adoption professionals — Chelsey of Utah, Shantell of New York and Tasha of Indiana — recently joined actress, singer and foster care adoption advocate, Jen Lilley, on the Fostering Hope podcast. They talked about the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® program and shared how COVID-19 is impacting children wait
This blog was adapted from a story by Tracey Leong of KIRO 7 News in Seattle, Washington. Terri fostered siblings Michael, Roman and Lilliana for more than three years. After two unsuccessful adoptions with other families, Terri made the decision to pursue adoption. But when COVID-19 hit, it de
“My life was a challenge from the beginning,” recalls Daisy, who was placed in foster care as an infant and spent the first two decades of her life without a permanent place to call home. Daisy lost her grandmother at a young age. She was abandoned by other family members. And, when Daisy was 15 yea
Floyd, Mark, Jermesha, Celeste, Harley, Cadence, Whitney, JR, Jermain and Shaelyn Jermesha, Floyd and Jermain were separated for five long years while in foster care before being referred to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® program. Their world changed when Edna came
