Podcasts about dave thomas foundation

BEST OF SEASON 6 — As we close out Season 6 and gear up for Season 7 of Fostering Change, we're highlighting some of our most powerful conversations from the past year. With over 220 episodes behind us, we're grateful to every guest and listener who has helped us grow this platform into what it is today.In this featured episode, Rob Scheer is joined by guest co-host Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, for an incredible conversation with Andrew Bridge — former foster youth, attorney, and author of The Child Catcher: A Fight for Justice & Truth.Andrew shares his story of surviving 11 years in Los Angeles County foster care, his rise to become a Harvard Law graduate and Fulbright Scholar, and his fight to protect children in broken systems. His new book, The Child Catcher, tells the true story of a legal battle to rescue youth trapped in a secretive and abusive institution in rural Alabama.

Wendy's Wonderful Kids is a program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption that for decades has focused on finding permanency for older youth in foster care, as well as children with special needs. The program, which received a $200 million commitment to expand in 2017, recently recorded its 15,000th adoption.Dave Thomas CEO Rita Soronen joins to discuss the experience of scaling up Wendy's Wonderful Kids and the lessons she learned along the way about how to get initial buy-in on an idea, and then keep support for it going. Rita Soronen has been the president and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption since 2001. Prior to joining the foundation, Ms. Soronen served as the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Franklin County. Thanks to SpeakWrite for serving as lead sponsor of this episode!Reading Room10,000 Adoptions Later: Wendy's Wonderful Kidshttps://imprintnews.org/podcast/10000-adoptions-laterWendy's Wonderful Kids: The Biggest Game in Adoption Todayhttps://imprintnews.org/adoption/wendys-wonderful-kids-biggest-game-adoption-today/30696Nonprofits Are Simultaneously Contemplating Strategy on Two Frontshttps://imprintnews.org/adoption/nonprofits-are-simultaneously-contemplating-impact-on-two-fronts/41366

Rich talks with Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the Washington Office of the National Council; he was present, along with former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, at this past weekend's "Free Iran" march in Washington D.C. Next, we learn more about the controversy involving the Dave Thomas Foundation's and Wendy's platform on LGBTQ adoption, from Project 21 Ambassador Kendall Qualls. Later, the founder of the Brain Performance Center, Dr. Leigh Richardson, helps us look into the mental health effects of switching to Daylight Saving Time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder what it's really like to adopt from foster care? In this episode of ADOPTION NOW, host April Fallon sits down with Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, who brings hard-earned wisdom about the foster care journey. They tackle the tough questions head-on: Can older kids really attach? What support do you actually need? How do you stay hopeful while being realistic? Whether you're just starting to explore or already in the process, Rita shares essential guidance on evaluating your readiness, building your support network, and finding adoption-competent professionals who get it. She emphasizes that success takes more than just love – it requires understanding trauma, being ready for the long haul, and having the right resources in place. The episode features the moving story of Marisol, whose journey to finding her forever family at 19 reminds us why this work matters. April and Rita share both the joys and challenges of foster care, while offering practical ways everyone can help – from mentoring to community support. If you're considering foster care, this conversation gives you both the inspiration and real-world guidance you need to begin your journey.

For more than 30 years, Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children, providing leadership for local, state and national efforts working to improve the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Leading the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national, nonprofit public charity, since 2001 and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada since 2004, Ms. Soronen works to find forever families for the more than 140,000 waiting children in North America's foster care systems.

We explore the transformative power of adoption with Rita L. Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Rita shares insights into how foster care adoption can change the lives of children who are seeking permanence and stability. As we celebrate National Adoption Month, we are reminded of the critical need to support vulnerable children. Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's, understood this deeply from his own life experiences, and in 1992 he created the foundation to advocate for children in foster care. As Rita explains, "These children are not someone else's responsibility. They are our responsibility."Rita emphasizes the Foundation's mission to increase adoptions and the ongoing commitment to expanding efforts, not just in the U.S. and Canada, but potentially in Mexico. The Foundation's partnership with the Wendy's Company and its many programs, like National Adoption Day, highlights the importance of celebrating and uplifting the stories of families formed through adoption. "We're not just raising awareness," Rita says, "We are walking families through each step of the adoption process." This message serves as a powerful call to action for individuals, communities, and organizations to step forward and support children in need of a forever family.#NationalAdoptionMonth #FosterCareAdoption #AdoptionAwarenessFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

It's Friday, July 26th, A.D. 2024. This is The World View in 5 Minutes, written by yours truly and heard at www.TheWorldView.com. Filling in for Adam McManus, I'm Ean Leppin. Hope emerging in Indonesia International Christian Concern, or the ICC, reports that residents living near the Tesalonika Church in Indonesia rioted and demanded that the church cease its worship activities. The footage of the rioters went viral on social media this week. A representative of the church stated that the church had been gathering inside a home because their lease for their previous place of worship had expired. Churches that meet in larger cities in Indonesia can generally worship openly; however, churches in smaller villages are increasingly challenged, threatened, and attacked. The ICC goes on to say, “Muslims are increasingly leaving Islam to follow Jesus, and devoted Muslims are taking notice. At the same time, religious tolerance is increasing in Indonesia and some churches are finally gaining approval to construct their own buildings after years and even decades of waiting.” Please pray to praise God for the growth of Christianity in Indonesia and to give boldness and strength for those who continue to face persecution. Jesus prayed for the church in John 17:16-19: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” Pro-life groups branded terrorists? Are pro-life Americans and groups branded as terrorists by the US Army? In a word … yes. Lifenews.com reported that journalist Sam Shoemate exposed a terrorism briefing held at Fort Liberty where they listed several pro-life organizations as terrorist organizations. Shoemate posted this on X on July 10th. They specifically named US Right to Life and Operation Rescue as terrorist organizations. The military facility has since recalled the slide that was in the presentation and revised it. In their own post on X, they said, “After conducting a commander's inquiry, we determined that the slides presented on social media were not vetted by the appropriate authorities, and do not reflect the views of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty, the US Army or the Department of Defense. These slides will no longer be used, and all future training products will be reviewed to ensure they align with the current DoD anti-terrosism guidance.” Ted Budd, a senator from North Carolina, issued a letter in response on July 12th, saying, “The Army must fully renounce this attack on pro-life Americans and conduct a full investigation to ensure similar materials aren't being used at other installations.” It has been revealed that these slides have been in use for the past 7 years at Fort Liberty. Articles of impeachment filed against Kamala Harris WGN News reports that six Democrats have joined House Republicans in voting to condemn the Biden administration and Vice President Kamala Harris in her role as US border czar. Earlier this year, GOP Lawmakers impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his failure to secure the border. Representative Andy Ogles from Tennessee has filed articles of impeachment against Harris. In an interview with Fox News Representative Ogles said this. CLIP: "We have a crisis…failure" Ogles goes on to say that this is not only his duty, but that time is also of the essence! CLIP: "I have an oath…if you will" Romans 13:1-2 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” First US House member to deliver floor speech using AI voice clone As reported by AP News, a rare neurological disorder called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, or PSP, took the voice of Representative Jennifer Wexton from Virginia. A new AI technology made it possible for her to speak before the House on Thursday! Rep Wexton spoke as a voice for other people with disabilities during Disability Pride Month. She also became the first House member in history to speak using an AI clone of her own voice. Here is part of her statement. CLIP: "I also never…so much more" Boy in foster care allowed to stay with disabled brother Finally, reported on Good news network.org, Dawson and his older brother Dalton were two brothers who were in the foster system together. Staying together was very important to Dawson because his brother Dalton has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, is non-verbal, and a quadriplegic. Keeping them together in the adoption process would be very challenging! But thanks to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a couple from Florida, and the grace of God, the boys are now together and in a new home with a loving family. That couple is Steven and Robbin. Robbin says that she couldn't have asked for better sons. She says, “Dawson is the person he is because he got the opportunity to keep his brother. It's half of him-that's his heart.” As for Dawson, he wants to grow up to be a doctor so that he can take care of people that have needs similar to that of his big brother. Close And that's The World View on this Friday, July 26th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldView.com. Or, get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

House Committee on Ways and Means Hearing on Strengthening Child Welfare and Protecting America's Children DATE: June 26, 2024 TIME: 10:00AM ET LOCATION: 1100 Longworth House Office Building At a Ways and Means hearing on strengthening child welfare programs in Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, witnesses urged the Committee to pursue reforms that would help the program better serve children and families in crisis. The hearing comes as the Committee has conducted a year-long review of Title IV-B to examine how it can better meet current needs and challenges. Witnesses, including former foster youth, lived experience advocates, and child welfare experts, identified areas ripe for reform, including kinship care, the caseworker shortage, administrative burden, and unfair barriers faced by Native American tribes. Witnesses Paris Hilton Lived-Experience Advocate and CEO 11:11 Media Rob Geen Bipartisan Policy Center Fellow, Chair of Board of Trustees Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Tori Hope Petersen Author, Speaker, and Advocate Alexis Mansfield Senior Advisor, Children & Families & Relationship Safety Women's Justice Institute Committee Notice: https://waysandmeans.house.gov/event/hearing-on-strengthening-child-welfare-and-protecting-americas-children/

Para taekwondo was first on the Paralympic program at Tokyo 2020, and it's looking to make a big statement at Paris 2024. On this episode, we talk with   American para taekwondo fighter Evan Medell, who competes in the K44 class of the men's 75+ kg weight class. At Tokyo, Evan broke his foot during his semifinal match against Asghar Aziziaghdam and lost that bout. However, he came back that same day and defeated Francisco Alejandro Pedroza Luna for the bronze medal (on a broken foot!). We talked with Evan about the sport, those fights at the 2020 Paralympics, and what he's looking forward to at Paris 2024. Follow Evan on Instagram! In Paris 2024 news, we learn that there's actually a plan B for marathon swimming, should the Seine be too polluted. Triathlon may follow the same plan--or become a duathlon (neither of which is an optimal choice). In news from TKFLASTAN, we hear from: Artistic swimmers Jacqueline Simoneau, Daniella Ramirez and Megumi Field Sprinter Kenny Bednarek - find out more about foster care adoption at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Author Andrew Maraniss - find Beyond the Game: Athletes Change the World - Maya Moore at our Bookshop.org affiliate site. Table tennis player Millie Tapper Don't forget to enter our giveaway--sign up for our newsletter and share for entries to win a sweet swag pack! For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.   Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!   *** Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.   Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod   Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://mailchi.mp/ee507102fbf7/flamealivepod VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348            

In the third and final episode of our miniseries on foster care, we hear from David Ambroz, a national poverty and child welfare advocate and author of the memoir 'A Place Called Home'. David shares his first hand account of growing up in the American foster care system, his experience becoming a foster parent, and how he learned to practice forgiveness. This episode is presented by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity that is committed to dramatically increasing the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America's foster care systems. For more information visit www.davethomasfoundation.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this second episode of our miniseries on foster care, we hear from Jeanie Gaskill, a parent who connected with her kids through The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Jeanie gets real with Lemonada host Gloria Riviera about what it's like to navigate trauma and support an open adoption in her family. Plus, Gloria learns what people should consider before fostering or adopting, and opens up about her late adoptive brother.This episode is presented by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity that is committed to dramatically increasing the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America's foster care systems. For more information visit www.davethomasfoundation.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is the first episode in our three-part series where we'll be talking to some leading change makers in the foster care and adoption space, who are working to better conditions for children in the system. In this episode, Lemonada host Gloria Riviera chats with the president and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption, Rita Soronen, about the state of foster care in the United States and why every child deserves the right to a family and a home. This episode is presented by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity that is committed to dramatically increasing the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America's foster care systems. For more information visit www.davethomasfoundation.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The positive impact of adoption-friendly workplace policies for nonprofits, with insights from Mary Ellen Smalley, Director of Brand and Cause Awareness at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. This fast-paced learning episode explores the Foundation's Top 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace list for 2024, showcasing organizations leading the charge in supporting adoptive and foster parents through robust benefits and inclusive environments. You'll hear about resources and guidance for implementing adoption-friendly policies tailored to your nonprofit organization's size and structure, ensuring inclusivity and support for employees considering adoption.  Mary Ellen and the cohosts offer heartwarming stories illustrating the profound impact of these adoption and fostercare policies on families and children. More and more nonprofits are creating foster care and adoption policies for their staff.  As Mary Ellen states, "We're just seeing the trends going up, and we see more and more companies participating...it's all good." Mary Ellen's insights detail the significance of adoption-friendly policies, explaining their role in creating inclusive environments for employees considering adoption. She outlines the diverse range of benefits offered by both for profit and non-profit organizations, ranging from financial reimbursement to generous paid leave policies, tailored to support various adoption paths, including foster care adoption. Mary Ellen lifts the veil on the Dave Thomas Foundation's Top 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace list for 2024. This list not only recognizes companies for their exemplary adoption policies but also serves as a benchmarking tool for organizations aspiring to enhance their support for adoptive parents. Through Mary Ellen's detailed explanation, you will learn how implementing adoption-friendly policies can vary in complexity depending on the size and structure of the organization.  The Foundation has links to resources and guidance, such as toolkits and surveys, to assist organizations at every stage of policy development.Watch on Video!Follow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

In this week's episode, our guest is Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, who shares her passion for advocating for abused and neglected children and finding them permanent homes. Don't forget to follow or subscribe to The Heart of Giving Podcast and leave a comment on iTunes. Follow us on Instagram @bbbwisegive and X @wisegiving. 

In this Power Week conversation with Rita L. Soronen, CEO and President of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, she shares her insights into nonprofit leadership, board engagement, and the foundation's impactful work in the field of adoption. As the foundation celebrates its 25th year, it continues to make strides in its mission to find permanent homes for children in foster care. Rita begins with discussing her 22-year tenure with the foundation and how it allows her to elevate her passion for child welfare and advocacy. She also highlights the importance of board recruitment, emphasizing the need for board members who are not only professionally skilled but also personally passionate about the organization's mission. She offers, "We want to make sure on our board that we have folks who have either adopted, were adopted, have fostered, have some connection, if not directly to themselves, through extended family." Continuing, and discussing board engagement, Rita details how the foundation has managed to engage more than 80% of its board members actively, attributing this success to a focus on committee work and regular check-ins. She also shares strategies for promoting self-care among staff, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive work environment. She says, "We try and encourage that as much as possible...cancel whatever's on your calendar and make sure that we're flexible enough to acknowledge that weeks are tough." When asked about the foundation's impact on adoption, Soronen mentions the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, which is embedded in 17 states and aims to be present in all 50 states by 2028. She acknowledges the progress made in improving adoption rates but also highlights the need to address myths and misperceptions surrounding vulnerable children and families. She states, "We've been able to do that now in 17 states with the goal of 28 states by the end of...all 50 states by the end of 2028." Rita adds to the discussion, mentioning the challenges and opportunities presented by remote work, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a sense of connection and collaboration among team members. She suggests that while technology has enabled remote work, face-to-face interaction remains valuable, particularly in a mission-driven organization like hers. She mentions, "Learning and sharing from each other face to face is critical." The inspiring episode concludes with a discussion of the foundation's upcoming event, "Home for the Holidays," celebrating its 25th anniversary. Soronen highlights the show's purpose of raising awareness about foster care adoption and bringing families together during the holiday season. She encourages people to tune in for the event, which features a variety of musical talent. Watch on video: https://bit.ly/3R2kpVYFollow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

 Focusing on the significance of ongoing testing and measurement in nonprofit marketing, Jill Crumbacher, the Senior VP of Marketing and Development at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, shares how they boost fundraising and brand awareness in this Nonprofit Power Week episode! Jill begins, stating "We have to test our marketing because there are two key components to raising money. We have to have a lot of market fundraising efforts, which the marketing team supports all of those through all of their channels... But also, to fundraise, you have to have brand awareness, somebody's got to know who you are, and that is 100% a marketing function.". She continues, highlighting that revenue is just one part of the equation. She details how their organization has a marketing team and a fundraising team, totaling around 22 employees, and these two teams work closely together. One key aspect of their testing involves evaluating the effectiveness of different creative elements in marketing campaigns, such as fonts, colors, and messaging. They use surveys to measure if audiences remember their organization's name after exposure to various marketing materials. Jill also emphasizes the importance of consistency in branding across different channels and the need to adapt creative elements for different mediums, such as direct mail, email, and digital advertising. She suggests conducting tests whenever entering a new channel and retesting every 18 months to two years to stay updated with changing trends. Additionally, Jill shares examples on how nonprofits can leverage their corporate partners for research opportunities, as many of them have access to resources that can aid in testing and research efforts. Watch on video: https://bit.ly/47sliMWFollow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

In this special Nonprofit Power Week episode, Rita Soronen, the President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, shared insights into the organization's origin story, founder syndrome, and the vital work they do in the field of adoption. Rita begins by emphasizing the significance of National Adoption Awareness Month and highlights the importance of focusing on foster care adoption, understanding its complexities, and encouraging communities to support children and families involved in the foster care system. One of the key takeaways from Rita's insights is the deep connection between the foundation's namesake, Dave Thomas, and the cause of adoption. Dave Thomas, known for founding Wendy's, was himself adopted as an infant and experienced the challenges of growing up without a stable family environment. His commitment to giving back to the community and his personal connection to adoption led to the creation of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. In Rita's words, "Dave Thomas . . . . it's our namesake Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, but underneath that is the legacy of this incredible person who started the incredible Wendy's brand." Rita also discusses the evolution of the foundation's mission and its shift from raising awareness to implementing evidence-based programs. She highlights the ongoing complexities in the field of child welfare, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for adaptable strategies and continuous growth. Rita continues, touching upon the topic of succession planning, stressing the importance of preparing for leadership transitions both internally and externally. She describes how the foundation is actively developing its leadership team to ensure a seamless transition when the time comes. In Rita's words, "It is my job to assure sustainability of the organization because typically all of us are working in causes that aren't going to be solved in our lifetimes." Rita Soronen's thoughtful insights and dedication to the cause of adoption, foster care and child welfare are inspiring and provide valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities faced by nonprofits in these fields. Watch on video: https://bit.ly/3sCgQMJFollow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

For more than 30 years, Rita Soronen has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children, providing leadership for local, state and national efforts, working to improve the juvenile justice and child welfare systems while striving to assure safe and permanent homes for North America's children. Leading the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity, since 2001 and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada since 2003, Ms. Soronen works to find permanent families for the more than 140,000 waiting children in North America's foster care systems. Connect with Rita here: https://www.youtube.com/user/DaveThomasFoundationhttps://www.facebook.com/DaveThomasFoundationforAdoptionhttps://twitter.com/DTFAhttps://www.instagram.com/dtfa/https://www.linkedin.com/company/dave-thomas-foundation-for-adoption/mycompany/ This episode is sponsored by: ⁠https://www.directsuggest.com/subscribe.php?id=6992⁠ Use Promo Code: HumanHR Connect with Traci here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/HRTraci⁠   Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe!   Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hrtraci/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hrtraci/support

Melinda Haggerty, Esq., serves as the Senior VP and General Counsel at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. She shares her personal journey and how her background as an adopted individual who grew up in the foster care system informs her perspective and commitment to the foundation's cause. This Nonprofit Power Week episode highlights the significance of recognizing one's own boundaries, the value of self-care, and the importance of diverse perspectives from individuals with lived experiences in the nonprofit sector. Melinda's openness and authenticity in sharing her story serve as a powerful example of how personal experiences can inform and inspire meaningful work in the nonprofit world. During the conversation, Melinda discusses her upbringing, being the oldest of five children with parents struggling with mental health and addiction issues. She highlights the disparities in how the system responds to her and her 12-year-old sister, who ends up in the juvenile justice system. This early experience leads her to a deep understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable children. She emphasizes the importance of permanency for youth in the child welfare system and how her own adoption at the age of 18 provides her with stability and support. The co-hosts ask about her role as General Counsel at the Dave Thomas Foundation, where she manages legal and policy aspects. She also discusses the challenges of disclosing her personal experience, setting boundaries, and balancing her lived experience with her professional role. She explained, "I never want to make a decision because of my lived experience because I would be missing the lived experience of everyone else in the child welfare system." She emphasized the need to always consider various viewpoints and not let her personal experience overshadow the broader experiences of others. Melinda points out the importance of maintaining self-care, including ongoing therapy, and her role as a mother, which provides her with healing and a sense of normalcy in her life. She acknowledges that her lived experience doesn't define her qualifications but adds another lens to her perspective. Watch on video: https://bit.ly/47ya1utFollow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Julianne Nichols, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, discusses how nonprofits use research effectively to drive positive change in attitudes and behaviors, and shares an inside look on how their foundation's approach can serve as a compelling example. Throughout this Nonprofit Power Week episode, the emphasis is on the importance of continuous, strategic, and multi-channel efforts to change attitudes and drive action. Julianne emphasizes the long-term commitment needed to shift public perceptions about foster care adoption and the critical role of storytelling in this process. Julianne begins by emphasizing the importance of research in shaping public perceptions and attitudes towards foster care adoption. She cites several examples, such as their Adoption and Foster Care Attitude Survey, which reveals that 30% of the public believe that teenagers in foster care can fend for themselves without the support of a permanent family. This finding drives the organization to leverage storytelling through public service announcements and other channels to humanize the issue and challenge misconceptions. An important quote from Julianne highlights the power of storytelling: "What we have really found is that a storytelling approach is among the most powerful tools in your toolbox." She explains how sharing personal stories of adopted children and adoptive parents changes minds and inspires action. Additionally, she discusses how research informs the development of programs like Wendy's Wonderful Kids, which demonstrates through rigorous evaluation that children referred to the program are up to three times more likely to be adopted, leading to the scaling of this initiative. This lively fast-paced conversation also touches on the cost and time associated with research, highlighting that it varies widely based on the complexity and scope of the study, and why external research partners are considered crucial when research results will inform policy decisions or public claims. Watch on video: https://bit.ly/3FV9O8SFollow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has joined ADOPTION NOW for an incredible interview. Rita Soronen has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children for more than 30 years.  As the leader of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity, her mission is to dramatically increase the number of adoptions from foster care. They are working hard to find permanent families for the more than 140,000 waiting children in the United States foster care system. The non-profit was inspired by Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's fast-food restaurant chain, who was adopted himself! Rita shares his story, as well as her own journey in working with families and children. If you are interested in adopting an older child from the foster care system, this episode is for you!

Recent events have compelled nonprofit organizations to change the way they get work done, how they deliver their services, and what they do to achieve a more just and equitable society. So, The Business of Giving has connected with those organizations that are doing this exceptionally well in a segment we call: The Paths Forward. Because there is more than just one way.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national, nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding forever families for the more than 140,000 children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States and Canada. Through its signature program, Wendy's Wonderful Kids®️, the Foundation supports the hiring of adoption professionals, known as recruiters, who serve children most at risk of aging out of foster care without a permanent home.The Foundation works closely with child welfare advocates and policymakers, provides free resources about foster care adoption and raises awareness through social media campaigns, public service announcements and events.WEBSITE

The following is a conversation between Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and Denver Frederick, the Host of The Business of Giving.

We were so thrilled to welcome skin and hair obsessed influencer Amy Chang to the podcast to discuss her career journey. As Amy's 1.6 million TikTok followers know, Amy is refreshingly candid about everything from her skincare routine, motherhood, to her own adoption journey - she's even an ambassador for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption!WBMB listeners at all stages of their careers will appreciate hearing Amy's path from being in her 20's, from not knowing what she wanted to do with her life to getting on social media, teaching herself photography, editing, lighting and slowly but surely connecting the dots: “I needed to go out there and make a lot of mistakes…piece together what I like and don't to shape my future.” To hear more of Amy's career journey, including her thoughts on what it means to “find yourself” listen wherever you get your podcasts!

Rita Soronen is a National Child Welfare Advocate working with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA). She advocates for the abused, neglected, and vulnerable children in the foster care and juvenile justice system. There are 117,000 children in North America freed for adoption and 77% of those children have some sort of medically identified need, including autism. These children belong to a special division of DTFA, Wendy's Wonderful Kids. This division is an initiative to advocate for and support children most at risk of aging out of the foster care system—teenagers, sibling groups, and those with special needs.During this conversation, Rita not only explains the wonderful work done for these children but also shares a story of hope. CJ is a child with autism who was adopted at age 9 by a loving and caring adoptive mom, D. Now 20 years old, CJ, who was nonverbal at the time of adoption, is thriving as a college student and productive adult. 1 in 36 children has autism, and there are many children in the child welfare system with an autism diagnosis or other special needs that need support and care. You can learn more by visiting the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption website or calling their information hotline. #autism #speechtherapy What's Inside:The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.An initiative for children most at risk in the child welfare systems.CJ's Story: A story of hope for children with autism awaiting adoption.Advocating for special needs children in the foster care system.Mentioned In This Episode:Dave Thomas FoundationDave Thomas Foundation for Adoption on FacebookCall: 1-800-ASK-DTFA

"God sets the lonely in families..." Psalm 68:6 Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode, host Sandra Flach chats with Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. For more than 30 years, Rita has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children.    Listen in as Rita shares about the Dave Thomas Foundation's mission, through their signature program Wendy's Wonderful Kids, to dramatically increase the number of adoptions from foster care and provide resources for adoptive families.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: sandraflach.com justicefororphansny.org davethomasfoundation.org

However children come into this world, they need a family. Every. Single. One. Hi Neighbor! One of the goals of this podcast is to provide resources for you on your adoption journey. On a regular basis, I share with you Biblical mindset support. But I realize there are other resources that you need. Resources that I don't have the expertise to speak about. Today I have a guest who can. Joining me in this episode of Anchors of Encouragement is Rita Soronen, the President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Rita shares with us information and resources that I wish had been available to me when I adopted many years ago. This is an episode where you are going to want to take notes. And as is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage you to do your due diligence. Listen to the information. Check out the resources and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can Hope and Healing are on the way. Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Tim Contact Information and Resources: Email Rita Soronen: rita.soronen@davethomasfoundation.org Access the resources mentioned in this episode, including the Step-By-Step Guide to Adoption, at this LINK. P.S. If this podcast has given you the courage and confidence to face storms in your life, the number one way you can thank me is to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts. I recorded a quick video to show you how. Thanks so much!  

Lots to catch up on this week with surveys, news and more. We go for a high energy opening and we'll see how that pans out. Here's links to the surveys we discussed: Adoption Support Agencies: proposed regulation changes here Regulating supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 & 17 here We were contacted by Rita from the Dave Thomas Foundation based in the US in relation to the work that they do to promote and facilitate the adoption of older children from the public care system in the US. We thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to look into a system that we rarely discuss but has a profound hold across adoption culture. (Starting 29 mins) Rita was incredibly articulate and clearly has a depth knowledge of the US system and the unique challenges that they face. We chat about the specific issues of adopting older children, Wendy's Wonderful Kids program and the processes that are built around that, we also discuss the broader system and some of the specific issues that impact on the US adoption culture. Scott was a little cheeky and asked his favourite question!    As always if you've experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here

Every few years The Dave Thomas Foundation takes the pulse of America's views on adoption. Specifically about foster care adoption. In this episode I spoke to Rita about their latest findings and what she wishes every American would understand about adoption. How to support the show!Pure Spectrum CBD: Promo code AnxietyPod for 15% off!https://www.purespectrumcbd.com/Buy Me a Coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/givesmeanxietyInstacart:Instacart.oloiyb.net/AnxietyThe Cardist - anxiety pod 10%https://thecardiststudio.com/Check out the show on all of your favorite social platforms!https://twitter.com/GivesanxietyPodhttps://www.facebook.com/thatgivesmeanxietypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thatgivesmeanxietypodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgCOITNlRi_K7JP9QxBK-vQCheck out the Dave Thomas Foundation's website:davethomasfoundation.orgSupport the show

Growing nonprofits can struggle with shifts in culture, bends in their legacies, managing development and promotions of existing staff, and even knowing when is the right time to call in outside help.  The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has experienced these struggles and shares how they coped and even flourished to the next level.Watch this episode on video: https://americannonprofitacademy.com/portfolio-items/dtfa-power-week-day-four/This is a recent episode of The Nonprofit Show, the Nation's daily live telecast, where the Nonprofit and Social Impact Community comes together each weekday discussing important topics from money to management to missions.If you lead or work for a nonprofit, social impact or service organization, or are thinking of starting a nonprofit, TheNonprofitShow.com is an excellent resource of current nonprofit information and operating strategies to make your social impact amazing. Each weekday there are new guest experts on the fast-paced 30-minute LIVE show, with topics ranging across nonprofit boards, foundations, grant funding, volunteer managers, donor relations, fundraising experts, NPO marketing, grant writers, philanthropy donors, nonprofit legal and tax professionals, CFRE info, nonprofit donor and crm software, charity tax expertise, virtual galas, charity auctions, online nonprofit charity event programs, social impact strategic planning, fundraising and fund development, fiscal sponsorships, capital campaigns, community impact analysis, donation management, nonprofit jobs, donor advised funds, nonprofit HR, nonprofit classes, training, global NGO organizations, as well as nonprofit sector Thought Leaders. The American Nonprofit Academy provides our Nation's nonprofit social impact community collective News, Inspirations, and Training.Follow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Honoring the true heroes of a nonprofit's story and the proper sharing of that story is complex, involving a deep appreciation of the people involved, their role, their history, and often a strong awareness of their traumas in story sharing. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption elaborates on how they emphasize safety over success when it comes to balancing story beside fundraising.Watch this episode on video: https://americannonprofitacademy.com/portfolio-items/dtfa-power-week-day-3/This is a recent episode of The Nonprofit Show, the Nation's daily live telecast, where the Nonprofit and Social Impact Community comes together each weekday discussing important topics from money to management to missions.If you lead or work for a nonprofit, social impact or service organization, or are thinking of starting a nonprofit, TheNonprofitShow.com is an excellent resource of current nonprofit information and operating strategies to make your social impact amazing. Each weekday there are new guest experts on the fast-paced 30-minute LIVE show, with topics ranging across nonprofit boards, foundations, grant funding, volunteer managers, donor relations, fundraising experts, NPO marketing, grant writers, philanthropy donors, nonprofit legal and tax professionals, CFRE info, nonprofit donor and crm software, charity tax expertise, virtual galas, charity auctions, online nonprofit charity event programs, social impact strategic planning, fundraising and fund development, fiscal sponsorships, capital campaigns, community impact analysis, donation management, nonprofit jobs, donor advised funds, nonprofit HR, nonprofit classes, training, global NGO organizations, as well as nonprofit sector Thought Leaders. The American Nonprofit Academy provides our Nation's nonprofit social impact community collective News, Inspirations, and Training.Follow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

We amplify this Nonprofit Power Week with a look at the importance of clarity in defining Board member roles and how being 'constructively dis-satisfied' as a board member can elevate the work of all the stakeholders toward the betterment of the cause!Watch this episode on video: https://americannonprofitacademy.com/portfolio-items/dtfa-power-week-day-2/This is a recent Power Week episode of The Nonprofit Show --the Nation's daily live telecast where the Nonprofit and Social Impact Community comes together each weekday discussing important topics-- from money to management to missions.If you lead or work for a nonprofit, social impact or service organization, or are thinking of starting a nonprofit--, TheNonprofitShow.com is an excellent resource of current nonprofit information and operating strategies to make your social impact amazing. Each weekday there are new guest experts on the fast-paced 30-minute LIVE show—with topics ranging across nonprofit boards, foundations, grant funding, volunteer managers, donor relations, fundraising experts, NPO marketing, grant writers, philanthropy donors, nonprofit legal and tax professionals, CFRE info, nonprofit donor and crm software, charity tax expertise, virtual galas, charity auctions, online nonprofit charity event programs, social impact strategic planning, fundraising and fund development, fiscal sponsorships, capital campaigns, community impact analysis, donation management, nonprofit jobs, donor advised funds, nonprofit HR, nonprofit classes, training, global NGO organizations, as well as nonprofit sector Thought Leaders. The American Nonprofit Academy provides our Nation's nonprofit social impact community collective News, Inspirations, and Training.Follow us on the Twitter: @Nonprofit_ShowSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

November is National Adoption Month, and as y'all may know, all three of our babies came to us through open adoption. So this episode, my husband Douglas joins us to talk about our experiences with the adoption process through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. We're reliving those early days as new dads, how we chose the path of open adoption, and what it means for our family. You'll also hear some of the Dave Thomas Foundation's heartwarming stories of foster and adoptive families. Learn more at www.davethomasfoundation.orgThen, I sit down with our family's own clinical social worker, the wonderful woman who saw us through all three of our adoptions, Suzy Loeb. We talk about building trust with your adoption team, how to maintain open communications and allow relationships with birth families to develop, how to talk to our kids about adoption, and so much more. Thank you to our family of amazing sponsors! Ochsner Hospital for ChildrenRouses MarkersKid's Dream Dress ShopWww.kidsdreamus.comSandpiper VacationsWww.sandpipiervactions.comPinxav Diaper Rash CreamWww.pinxav.com

Today's 5-Star Guests are Rita Soronen (President & CEO) and Jill Crumbacher (Senior VP, Marketing & Development) from the Dave Thomas Foundation.  Children are placed in foster care through no fault of their own because of abuse or neglect. They deserve a safe, loving and permanent home.Dave Thomas always said,“These children are not someone else's responsibility. They are our responsibility.”Through their national awareness campaigns and innovative programs, the Dave Thomas Foundation is dedicated to achieving the vision that every child will have a permanent home and a loving family. A rigorous, five-year national evaluation revealed that children referred to their Wendy's Wonderful Kids program are up to 3x more likely to be adopted from foster care.Connect With Dave Thomas Foundation: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/Donate To Dave Thomas Foundation: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/give/Get on our waiting list for our new nonprofit & fundraising community filled with on-demand courses and live webinars that are exclusive to members! Learn all about what's in store to support you and your leadership team at www.DoGoodYOUniversity.com!Special THANK YOU to our sponsors:Donor Dock - The best CRM system for your small to medium sized nonprofit, hands down! Visit www.DonorDock.com and use the Promo Code DOGOODBETTER for a FREE month!Support This Podcast! Make a quick and easy donation here:https://www.patreon.com/dogoodbetteriTunes: https://apple.co/3a3XenfSpotify: https://spoti.fi/2PlqRXsYouTube: https://bit.ly/3kaWYanTunein: http://tun.in/pjIVtStitcher: https://bit.ly/3i8jfDRFollow On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoGoodBetterPodcast/Follow On Twitter: @consulting_do #fundraising #fundraiser #charity #nonprofit #donate#dogood #dogoodBETTER #fargo #fundraisingdadAbout Host Patrick Kirby:Email: Patrick@dogoodbetterconsulting.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fundraisingdad/Want more great advice? Buy Patrick's book! Now also available as an e-book!Fundraise Awesomer! A Practical Guide to Staying Sane While Doing GoodAvailable through Amazon Here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1072070359

In episode 51 i'm featuring the full interview I did with Rita Soronen, CEO of The Dave Thomas Foundation. Their mission is to help facilitate the adoption of children from foster care to to spread awareness around adoption.How to support the show!Buy Me a Coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/givesmeanxietyInstacart:Instacart.oloiyb.net/AnxietyMy Software Tutor - Promo Code pod20 for 20 percent offhttps://mysoftwaretutor.com/The Cardist - anxiety pod 10%https://thecardiststudio.com/Check out the show on all of your favorite social platforms!https://twitter.com/GivesanxietyPodhttps://www.facebook.com/thatgivesmeanxietypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thatgivesmeanxietypodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgCOITNlRi_K7JP9QxBK-vQCheck out the Dave Thomas Foundation's website:davethomasfoundation.orgSupport the show

The process of adoption can feel overwhelming. There's a lot of steps and the process can be drawn out. The good news is there's a lot more support out there than you think. In this episode I interview Rita Soronen, CEO of The Dave Thomas Foundation and Luke Ward, Comedian and Dad about adoption, what to expect and how in the end, it's all worth it.How to support the show!Buy Me a Coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/givesmeanxietyInstacart:Instacart.oloiyb.net/AnxietyMy Software Tutor - Promo Code pod20 for 20 percent offhttps://mysoftwaretutor.com/The Cardist - anxiety pod 10%https://thecardiststudio.com/Check out the show on all of your favorite social platforms!https://twitter.com/GivesanxietyPodhttps://www.facebook.com/thatgivesmeanxietypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thatgivesmeanxietypodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgCOITNlRi_K7JP9QxBK-vQCheck out the Dave Thomas Foundation's website:davethomasfoundation.orgCheck out Luke's website:lukeward.comSupport the show

540 – Why Should Organizations Include Adoptive Families in Employee Benefit Programs? Hosts: Steve Boese, Trish McFarlane Guest: Rita Soronen, President & CEO, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption This episode of At Work in America is sponsored by Paychex, one of the leading providers of HR, payroll, retirement, and insurance solutions for businesses of all sizes. The current business and hiring environment has redefined what it takes to succeed as an HR professional, requiring HR leaders to adapt and innovate at lightning speed to help their organizations remain competitive. Download the 2022 Paychex Pulse of HR report to discover the tools and tactics your peers are using to deliver on both HR and business objectives - faster and at scale - while still meeting the evolving needs of their employees. Visit payx.me/PHR2022 to download your copy, today. This week, we met with Rita Soronen from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to learn more about how organizations can support adoptive families. - Why is it important for an organization to offer adoption benefits? - Data around adoption rates and companies that offer adoption benefits - Types of benefits that can help employees going through the adoption process - Steps to take when implementing adoption benefits into your existing parental leave program For more information, click here Thank you, Rita, for joining the show today!  Remember to subscribe to At Work in America wherever you get your podcasts.

To increase impact, nonprofits need to scale up by seeking innovative ways to expand their programs so they can reach larger populations, easier. The scaling process involves identifying a gap that needs to be filled and finding where you can step in by leveraging a working strategy. In today's podcast, Rita Soronen from Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Stephen from Financing Solutions discuss how to scale a nonprofit program.

For more than 30 years, Rita Soronen has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children, providing leadership for local, state and national efforts, working to improve the juvenile justice and child welfare systems while striving to assure safe and permanent homes for North America's children.Leading the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity, since 2001 and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada since 2004, Ms. Soronen works to find permanent families for the more than 135,000 waiting children in North America's foster care systems. Under her leadership, the Foundation has significantly increased its grant-making while developing strategic initiatives that act on the urgency of the issue. In 2021, the Foundation dedicated more than $40.9 million to grants and award-winning programs, such as Wendy's Wonderful Kids®, Adoption-Friendly Workplace™ and National Adoption Day. Additionally, through public service announcements, social media campaigns, articles, events, sponsorships and more, the Foundation is building awareness around the growing need for foster care adoption.Under Ms. Soronen's leadership, the Foundation created Wendy's Wonderful Kids in 2004 with seven pilot sites as a platform to engage more partners to transform failing child welfare practices and, most importantly, to aggressively find the right families for children waiting much too long to be adopted. In 2011, a rigorous, five-year national evaluation by Washington, D.C.-based Child Trends revealed that a child referred to the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program is up to three times more likely to be adopted. In 2017, with the support of the Blue Meridian Partners, the Foundation launched an aggressive, multi-year business plan to take Wendy's Wonderful Kids to scale in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. With support from the Foundation's partners and generous donors, more than 500 Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruiters have helped to find forever families for more than 12,000 children in foster care and counting across the U.S. and Canada.Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Soronen served as the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Franklin County. During that time, she also served as the president of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio CASA/GAL Association and led the passage of specialty license plate legislation benefiting CASA programs throughout Ohio, as well as the design and implementation of model program standards assuring the consistent application of effective advocacy for children involved in court proceedings at the local and state levels.Ms. Soronen is a nationally recognized child welfare advocate. She has testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth on the importance of foster care adoption. A requested national speaker on the topics of children, the child welfare system and social innovation, Ms. Soronen has been a featured presenter at events for the Center for Adoption Support and Education, Children Need Amazing Parents, National Association of County Commissioners, the National Council for Adoption, North American Council on Adoptable Children, the Philanthropy Roundtable and at While House adoption events, among others. Ms. Soronen is a founding board member and past vice president of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and is a current member of the advisory board. She also serves as a member of Barco's Nightingales Foundation's advisory board and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children's board of trustees.Ms. Soronen is a founding board member and past vice president of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and is a current member of the advisory board. She also serves as a member of Barco's Nightingales Foundation's advisory board and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children's board of trustees. Ms. Soronen is a recipient of the Angels in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, the National CASA Association Kappa Alpha Theta Program Director of the Year Award, the Ohio CASA/GAL Association Statewide Leadership Award and was a 2013 recipient of WSNY's 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know. She is a fellow of the Jefferson Fellowship for Executive Leadership; was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Community Leadership from Franklin University in 2016; was named a YWCA Woman of Achievement in 2017; was named a National Number One by the Columbus Foundation in 2018; and was honored with Smart Business Network's 2019 Smart 50 Program Award for Impact, Giving Back to the Community.A graduate of the University of Louisville, Ms. Soronen resides in Columbus, Ohio.Ms. Soronen is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council and shares insights regularly through articles with fellow council members. Read Ms. Soronen's latest articles.The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is the only public nonprofit charity in the United States that is focused exclusively on foster care adoption. Through its signature program, Wendy's Wonderful Kids®, the Foundation funds adoption professionals, known as recruiters, who are dedicated to finding loving, permanent homes for children waiting in foster care.The Foundation works closely with child welfare advocates and policymakers, provides free resources about foster care adoption and raises awareness through social media campaigns, public service announcements and events.More at:https://www.facebook.com/DaveThomasFoundationforAdoptionhttps://twitter.com/DTFAhttps://www.instagram.com/dtfa/https://www.youtube.com/user/DaveThomasFoundationhttps://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

In this week's episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Jen Lilley. In 2007, Lilley married Jason Wayne. In 2016, Lilley and her husband became foster parents through the organization, Childhelp. In June 2019, Lilley and Wayne adopted their two foster sons and in July 2019, she gave birth to a daughter. And just 2 months ago in May, she gave birth to another daughter!A star on both the silver and small screens, including the Academy Award-winning film THE ARTIST, NBC's iconic daytime series “Days of Our Lives,” ABC's “General Hospital,” and a regular leading lady on the Hallmark Channel and GAC, actress/singer/philanthropist Jen Lilley has tackled countless roles throughout her illustrious career. Jen Lilley's creative prowess does not end when the director yells cut, she is also a singer and songwriter. Her music exudes the same sultry ferocity of Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton, with Phil Spector's wall of sound treatment via Rosie Danvers and her 50-piece orchestra. ​AXS.com said, “Lilley conjures up the sound of a 1960s girl group and embodies the same essence of Amy Winehouse. She takes a nostalgic twist on a modern song that will remind you of what classic music sounds like and have you longing for the days of Motown." When Jen Lilley is not busy in front of a camera, or perfecting her vocals in studio, she can be found hosting her podcast, "Fostering Hope with Jen Lilley" to demystify the foster care system and encourage loving people to get involved in the cause. She is a true champion for charities. In addition to donating 100% of her music profits to create a neighborhood model of safe loving foster homes, she co-founded Christmas is Not Cancelled, Inc.: A marketing company that raises awareness and funds for amazing causes and nonprofits while giving participants the chance to win huge prizes! The next Christmas is Not Cancelled event is coming up THIS MONTH. In fact, Comfort Cases is partnering with Jen and her team for a "Christmas is Not Cancelled Packing Party" at the end of July. We will be packing up 2022 backpacks filled with school supplies to deliver to students in need in the Washington, DC Metro area. As a teenager, Jen garnered the National Educators Award for her work in Guatemala. She is known for advocating children's rights and supports charities that focus on protecting children against physical and sexual abuse, human trafficking, and the world water crisis. Truly selfless, she is a foster and adoptive parent herself and is a celebrity ambassador for the child abuse and treatment organization Child help, Project Orphans, ECPAT, Olive Crest, The Dave Thomas Foundation, The Thirst Project, The Los Angeles Mission, Oneless, A21, Children of the Night, and the Innocent Justice Foundation. Story Key Notes:

Do you believe that it is too expensive to adopt a child from foster care? Or that you aren't qualified? Every five years, the Dave Thomas Foundation commissions The Adoption Attitudes Survey, which concerns contemporary attitudes toward adopting older chi...

Rita shares her journey to becoming the brand ambassador for the Dave Thomas Foundation and the lessons she learned along the way.

In this week's episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Rita is a national non-profit public charity executive with extensive national experience in fundraising, grantmaking, strategic planning and organizational management and program growth. Children's social justice issues are always a focus while providing a business environment of accountability and excellence in finance management, marketing, communications, governance and planning on their behalf.Story Key Notes:

In this episode, Rev Karla exposes the dangerous inherent connection between white supremacy and American Christianity. She also discusses why the inaction of 'Not all Christians' is actually helping Christian extremists gain power in American politics. Click here to read the blog version of this episode or watch the uncut version on Youtube. Additional resources for this episode include: Donald Trump's long history of racism, from the 1970s to 2020, To the World, We're Now America the Racist and Pitiful, America's still as racist as it's always been, World Orphans Day, The Stars Foundation, How Many Orphans Worldwide? What to Do?, How Many Orphans in the U.S.?, Abortion Fast Facts, Agency Adoptions, US Adoption Statistics, 51 Useful Aging Out of Foster Care Statistics, Do Orphanages Still Exist in America?, Dave Thomas Foundation, Dave Thomas, THE ORPHAN CRISIS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, IS AMERICA THE ANSWER TO THE ORPHAN CRISIS?

Rita Soronen is the President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which has just commissioned a Harris poll to survey Americans about their attitude towards adoption.  While more than half of adults in the U.S. (67%) agree that every child is adoptable, many remain wary of adopting teenagers.  In fact, only 3% of respondents considered adopting a teenager as their first choice and 30% felt that teens who were not adopted by the time they turned 18 would be just fine on their own. This opinion was reflected at the start of the pandemic when only a few states implemented policies to prevent youth from aging out of the system during the pandemic leaving them to fend for themselves.    Youth who age out of the foster care system without being adopted – around 20,000 a year –  are at higher risk for negative outcomes like homelessness, unemployment, early parenthood or incarceration.    The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is unique in that it specializes in foster care adoption and provides support for trained adoption professionals dedicated to finding homes for kids who have been in care the longest and are most at risk of aging out.   Here is the complete 2022 U.S. Survey Findings.    Foster Care: An Unparalleled Journey Find All Our Links Here https://linktr.ee/fostercarenation Merch! http://tee.pub/lic/RwiARsuuDHs Call the Voicemail Line 413-foster 3 (413) 367-8373 Foster Care 101 Free webinar with NO sales pitch!   Support Our Mission https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fostercare   https://patreon.com/fostercarenation   Website   https://fostercarenation.com   Connect with us on our Facebook Page   https://facebook.com/7timedad   Connect on Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/fostercarenation/

Marcy Bursac is an adoptive mom of a sibling pair, the author of The Forgotten Adoption Option, and the host of The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast. Her heart for adoption comes from participating in service projects with orphans and hearing her husband's story of his grandfather being orphaned in St. Louis at age seven but never being adopted.Marcy Bio:"Adoption was my Plan A. My husband and I adopted a biological sibling pair. While remote schooling my children during the pandemic, I began to see a gap between adults with a desire to adopt and the 115,000 adoptable children within the United States. With a heart for those children and a deep desire to take action, I wrote a book for adults (The Forgotten Adoption Option: A How-To and Self-Reflection Guide for Pursuing Foster Care Adoption) and launched a podcast (The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast).As USOA Mrs. Ohio 2022, I am an ambassador for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption on a quest to find forever families for the 115,000 United States children who are waiting to be adopted through foster care.After placing in the Top 16 at the United States of America's Mrs. Pageant and winning the People's Choice Award, I am publishing the children's book: Are You a Forever Family? Also, I am developing an app (The Forgotten Adoption Option App) to teach 25,000 adoptive families how to get licensed to adopt through foster care."To listen to Marcy's The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast, meet waiting children, and learn more about the foster care adoption process visit forgottenadoptionoption.com.

Jayne Amelia talks with amazing, astounding and ever persistent Gay Courter.Gay Courter is the author of 7 bestselling novels with over three million copies in print worldwide including The Midwife, The Midwife's Advice, Code Ezra, River of Dreams, Flowers in the Blood, and The Girl in the Box.  Her non-fiction works include The Beansprout Book and How To Survive Your Husband's Midlife Crisis, and I Speak for this Child: True Stories of a Child Advocate, which was nominated for a Pulitizer Priz for non-fiction.  She is also a distinguished travel writer.   www.gaycourter.com  Gay has served as a volunteer in the Florida Guardian Ad Litem program since 1989 in which she acts as the court appointed advocate for neglected and abused children.  Her book about her experiences, I Speak For This Child: True Stories of a Child Advocate, brought national attention to the cause.  She has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Day One, NBC Weekend Edition, and in Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitorand other national publications as an expert on these issues and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.  Gay has also received the Child Advocate of the Year award in Florida for her work as a Guardian Ad Litem, the Sharon Solomon Child Advocate Award from the Florida Center for Children and Youth, and special recognition from the Florida Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television, Inc. for her work on Where's My Chance? The Case for Our Children, which also won an Emmy.  Gay received her second Emmy from the National Academy of Arts and Television Sciences, Suncoast Chapter, for a series of public service announcements called Solutions for America's Children.  She has been selected as one of the 10 most admired women in Citrus County twice—in the community service and arts categories.In 2004, Gay, her husband, Philip, and daughter, Ashley, jointly won the Angels in Adoption from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and nominated by Congresswoman, Ginny Brown-Waite.  Gay is married to her collaborator in documentary films, Philip Courter.  They have produced almost hundred films on child welfare topics and specialize in media about children's issues and strengthening family.  Clients include National CASA, the National Council of Family and Juvenile Judges, the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and the North American Council on Adoptable Children.  The Courters have two sons, Blake, a specialist in computer design development and engineer; and Joshua, an ethnographic filmmaker and builder/designer.  In 1998, they adopted Ashley, then age 12, who spent 9 years of her life in Florida's foster care system in 14 different homes.  Ashley's bestselling book about her experiences is called Three Little Words and is in development as a feature film.Together the Courters continue to work professionally and personally so that other children will not be lost in the system like their daughter was.For more information see gaycourter.com courterfilms.comNational CASA/GAL Association For Children

The Main Thing: Adding to your family is a life-changing event. Whether biological, adoption or foster care, it's a major event and everything is different thereafter. At some point, it comes time to return to “normal” or some of the responsibilities we had pre-family addition. But how? And with what support? For Episode 026 we had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Matt Quade, Associate Professor of Management at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business. As a passionate educator and fellow adoptive parent he has completed and participated in extensive research opportunities pertaining to adoptive parent support. He's joined us to share his insights and advice on how to navigate getting back to work!  Episode Resources: To take a deeper dive into topics discussed during this episode, Matt recommended 5 Gears by Jeremie Kubicek and connecting with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. 2 A.M. Connect: Want to stay connected with what's happening at 2 Adoptive Mamas? Visit our website and share your e-mail. We don't like to overwhelm inboxes, so you'll just receive our weekly newsletter and the occasional special announcement - super simple - we hope you'll join us!

On this week's podcast we discuss the growing interest in race-blind foster care removal decisions, hidden foster care, the return of federal earmarks, and an interesting Michigan Supreme Court case on educational neglect. Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, joins to discuss the first 10,000 adoptions accomplished under the organization's Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, and what's next for expansion of the program.  Reading RoomColor-Blind Ambitionhttps://bit.ly/3ufhJWUKentucky's Budget Shrunk. These Informal Foster Parents Were Left with Nothing.https://bit.ly/39IDW7XPork Is Backhttps://bit.ly/2PRK46MInside the Expanding Universe of Wendy's Wonderful Kidshttps://bit.ly/2PX5dfv