My wife, Darah, and I always wondered if we might one day adopt. Darah was adopted at birth, so adoption has always been a big part of her story. At the time we began to consider it more seriously, Darah and I had three biological sons but felt we had room in our family for another child.
We started meeting more families who had adopted, including many through Adoption Connection, a group of Capital One associates who share resources and support for adoptive parents. Adoption Connection, and the families we met there, helped us understand what to expect.
Darah and I also learned about the amazing benefits at Capital One, including an adoption expense reimbursement up to $35,000. I always understood that adoption could be expensive, but once I learned that our costs would be mostly covered by my employer, I knew that our dream would become a reality. We were about to have another baby.
We selected an adoption agency, and six months later we brought our daughter, Tatum, home. In 2020, we officially became a family of six through a virtual adoption over Zoom.
At Capital One, all employees who adopt can get eight weeks of paid parental leave. Everyone at work was so supportive of me taking this time, as I did with my first three children. I took two weeks right away and then six weeks during the summer to bond with the baby and spend time with my family. Our boys, who are now 3, 6 and 9, are thrilled with their new sister and often bypass Darah and me to hug her first!
To all those considering adoption, I highly recommend researching to find the adoptive path that is best for you. And if you’re an employee at Capital One, know that you’ll have the support — emotionally and financially — to make it work.
Capital One Financial Corporation has ranked in the top ten on the Foundation’s 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list since 2017. View the 2020 list.
