Podcasts about national adoption day

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

Welcome to Season 6 of Fostering Change! Following 220 amazing episodes, we are so excited for what's to come this season. We have special and moving guests, and throughout the season we are inviting some of Comfort Cases' friends to co-host episodes with Rob Scheer. That includes today's episode, as we are so lucky to have Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption join Rob to interview our first guest of the season, Andrew Bridge, author of The Child Catcher: A Fight for Justice & Truth. If you have a suggestion for a guest, or questions or comments about today's episode, please reach out to us at info@comfortcases.org.About today's first episode of our new season: Rob and Rita have a riveting conversation with Andrew Bridge - about his time in foster care, and the battles he has fought for youth in foster care. His new book, The Child Catcher, is the true story of the fight to rescue the children confined to a violent and secretive institution in the rural South.Proceeds from the book will go to CASA National, State, and local county chapters. Buyers should go to AndrewBridgeAuthor.com and select the CASA chapter of their choice, and 50% of pre-sale royalties will go there.More About Andrew: Andrew spent 11 years in Los Angeles County foster care. After aging out, unlike so many in foster care he made it to college: Wesleyan University, and then graduated from Harvard Law School and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship. He began his legal career representing children against the State of Alabama, where his work resulted in the closure of one of the country's most notorious psychiatric institutions, the Eufaula Adolescent Center. Returning to Los Angeles, he became CEO of The Alliance for Children's Rights, representing children in the foster care system where he grew up. Andrew is the co-founder of National Adoption Day and New Village Girls Academy for pregnant and parenting teens. As Chair of Los Angeles County's Blue Ribbon Task Force, he called for an end to the disproportionate removal of Black babies from their mothers. His memoir Hope's Boy was a New York Times bestseller and Washington Post Best Book of the Year. Most recently, he was a member of the executive management team for Illinois DCFS, and with Arizona as his home, he now serves on the Arizona Foster Care Review Board. His second book about that fight against Alabama, The Child Catcher, will be released in September. To find out more about Andrew, please follow him on social media:Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/andrew.bridge.9041/InstagramandrewbridgejdTwitter/X@AndrewBridgeJDThreadsAndrewBridgejd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please join us for “The Child Catcher: An Interview with Andrew Bridge About his Upcoming Book” Andrew Bridge spent 11 years in Los Angeles County foster care. After aging out, he attended Wesleyan University, then graduated from Harvard Law School and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship. He began his legal career representing children against the State of Alabama, where his work resulted in the closure of one of the country's most notorious psychiatric institutions, the Eufaula Adolescent Center. Returning to Los Angeles, he became CEO of The Alliance for Children's Rights, representing children in the foster care system where he grew up. Andrew is the co-founder of National Adoption Day and New Village Girls Academy for pregnant and parenting teens. His memoir Hope's Boy was a New York Times bestseller and Washington Post Best Book of the Year. Most recently, he was a member of the executive management team for Illinois DCFS, and with Arizona as his home, he now serves on the Arizona Foster Care Review Board. His second book about that fight against Alabama, The Child Catcher, will be released in September. You can find information on The Child Catcher here: https://www.andrewbridgeauthor.com/ Support the Show.

Jessica and her husband Greg are herald as adoption advocates across New York State. After adopting a sibling group of two from foster care in 2015, they discovered the massive need for foster and adoptive parents. They founded All 4 One Adoption Awareness, an organization focused on highlighting the 110,000 children in foster care who are freed to be adopted and need a forever family. For three years straight, Jessica has promoted and organized a 110 mile run across St. Lawrence County which is held on National Adoption Day to raise awareness for this need. Jessica was a contestant on Season 8 of NBC's American Ninja Warrior where she shared her story and passion for adoption. She was featured in Runner's World Magazine in 2018 for attempting to run 110 miles through a snowstorm on National Adoption Day. Jessica has the privilege of presenting a TEDx Talk in November 2020 entitled, “How to Win at the Race Called Life”. When Jessica is not running marathons or after her children, she also loves reading, Tim Hortons,  and kayaking with her family. Related Links: AMAZON: Unlimited Motherhood WEBSITE: Jessica Hurlbut

In today's episode, I get to sit down with my new friend, Jessica Hurlbut, author of Unlimited Motherhood. We explore her profound journey of faith, motherhood, and resilience. Jessica opens up about her experiences raising two children with autism, her battles with anger and doubt, and how her faith has grown through these challenges. From witnessing a miraculous healing at camp to preventing her future husband's suicide with a timely message, Jessica shares how listening to God's voice and obeying His guidance has shaped her life in extraordinary ways. Join us as we dive into her story of dependency on God and finding purpose in unexpected circumstances. Bio: Jessica Hurlbut is a pastor, a writer, an ultra runner, and a mom of five—two who struggle with autism, two adopted, and one typical teen boy. She spent nine years in the trenches of full-time ministry until 2012 when her daughter was diagnosed with level three autism. Four years later, Jessica's son was also diagnosed with severe autism. She refers to this season as her hidden years, where God did a great and humbling work in her life. During this time, the Holy Spirit called Jessica and her husband to adopt a sibling pair through foster care, and God opened their eyes to the great need for foster and adoptive parents in this country. This led Jessica to attempt to run 110 miles in 24 hours on National Adoption Day as a visual representation of the 110,000 kids in foster care who desperately need a forever family through adoption. Jesus whispered to Jessica's heart, “If you take care of my kids, I'll take care of yours.” Anchor Verse: Ephesians 3:20 Hebrews 11:6 Connect with Jessica: Website: https://www.jessicahurlbut.com  IG: https://www.instagram.com/jessicahurlbut  FB: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.hurlbut.3  ***We love hearing from our listeners! Sharing your thoughts through reviews is a fantastic way to be a part of our podcast family and contribute to the conversation. If you've enjoyed our podcast, leaving a review is quick and easy! Just head to Apple podcasts or wherever you are tuning in and share your thoughts. Your feedback makes a big difference!***

Join us as we sit down with the ever-inspiring Andrew Bridge, whose life story is a testament to human resilience and the power of hope. Andrew takes us on an intimate journey from the depths of the LA foster care system, through the halls of Harvard Law, and into the heart of his mission to advocate for children in need. His reflections on the transformative nature of education, the importance of stable family environments, and his deep personal connection to the cause will leave you moved and motivated. We explore the life-altering impact of those like Andrew who are dedicated to reforming the foster care and adoption systems. His contribution to initiatives such as National Adoption Day, along with a call to action for volunteerism with organizations like the Arizona Foster Care Review Board and court-appointed special advocates, reminds us that we all have a role to play. This episode is a call to action, urging each of us to engage in supporting the 400,000 children navigating the American foster care system—and to remember that even the smallest acts of kindness can echo in a child's life forever. (00:00) Empowering Youth Through Life's Challenges (08:52) Advocating for Foster Children (16:08) Importance of Family and Security (21:25) Supporting Foster Children and Adoption

This week on Finding Your Bliss, we have a show in honour of National Adoption Month! Life Coach and Bliss Expert Judy Librach is joined by the author of "Let Us Be Greater: A Gentle, Guided Path to Healing for Adoptees", Michelle Madrid! Michelle Madrid is an author and host of the "Electricity of You" Podcast. She is an international adoptee, a former foster child in the UK, and an adoptee empowerment life coach who has been recognized as an Angels in Adoption

In courthouses around the state, dozens of families are celebrating as their adoptions become final. WBZ's was at the courthouse in Boston on this National Adoption Day.

Today – This Friday marks a special occasion in Cochise County – it's National Adoption Day, an annual celebration that turns the spotlight on the joy and importance of adoption.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Adoption Day  is November 18. At Living Wholehearted, we work with leaders and their families. From professional counseling with children, teens, couples and families to executive coaching and organizational and leadership development, our passion is helping leaders live with integrity at home, work and in the community. Among the various clients we serve, many have foster or adopted children, are considering the options, or are dealing with some of the unique challenges associated with caring for these children. We are excited to have Dr. Sharen Ford with us today, who has expertise and passion in this area.    Dr. Sharen Ford is a nationally-recognized child welfare consultant and the retired Manager for Permanency Services for the Colorado Department of Human Services. She retired with 30 years of comprehensive work history with the department, overseeing six programmatic areas including the Foster Care and Adoption Program. She is the former President of the National Association of State Adoption Programs (NASAP). She currently serves as the Director for Foster Care and Adoption at Focus on the Family and is as committed as ever to raising awareness regarding the need for every child to have a quality family.   To connect with Dr. Sharen Ford, visit:   ONLINE: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/   SOCIAL:  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/focusonthefamily/ Twitter - @FocusFamily     =======================   We LOVE that you've decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community.  Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter. And, if you're a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.     Until next time, be the leader you would follow!   Grateful for you, Jeff & Terra   To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to:   INSTAGRAM @TerraMattson @Living_Wholehearted @MyCourageousGirls   FACEBOOK @WeAreLivingWholehearted @MyCourageousGirls   WEBSITES LivingWholehearted.com TerraMattson.com  MyCourageousGirls.com   RESOURCES Shrinking the Integrity Gap        https://davidccook.org/shrinking-integrity-gap-book/       https://a.co/d/dRiP4Ii Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course        https://www.livingwholeheartedstore.com/e-courses Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace       https://mycourageousgirls.com/shop/p/book-courageous-being-daughters-rooted-in-grace Dear Mattsons        https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdPzQ_cUwCbRc-MQ40KL3a6ze06CiY38l Helping Moms Raise Confident Daughters        http://cpguides.org   =======================   The Living Wholehearted Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org  

What is Pat's secret power over ducks? Find out on today's Morning Blend. And hear a touching story of one family opening their hearts to grow their family on National Adoption Day.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, I wanted to have someone on that has significant experience in handling children with autism. That's when I found Jessica Hurlbut on social media. Jessica and her husband have five kids, two of their children severe autism. In this episode she shares their story and shares so much that will help you parents with autistic kids. Jessica Hurlbut was a contestant on Season 8 of NBC's American Ninja Warrior where she shared her story and passion for adoption. She was featured in Runner's World Magazine in 2018 for attempting to run 110 miles through a snowstorm on National Adoption Day. Jessica and her husband Greg are also herald as adoption advocates across New York State. After adopting a sibling group of two from foster care in 2015, they discovered the massive need for foster and adoptive parents. They founded All 4 One Adoption Awareness, an organization focused on highlighting the 110,000 children in foster care who are freed to be adopted and need a forever family. For three years straight, Jessica has promoted and organized a 110 mile run across St. Lawrence County which is held on National Adoption Day to raise awareness for this need. You can check out her story on her website in the show notes below. Dad Up! Dad Up YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast Dad Up Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562 Dad Up Website: https://www.daduptribe.com/ Dad Up Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daduppodcast/ Dad Up LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe Jessica Hurlbut's Website: https://www.jessicahurlbut.com Jessica Hurlbut's Instagram: https://instagram.com/jessicahurlbut Jessica Hurlbut YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jessicahurlbut6021 Jessica Hurlbut Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.hurlbut.3 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daduppodcast/support

This week, Evelyn is in Spain and the co-hosts chat about those Spanish adventures; Toledo and Marbella. And, Pasquale shares his experience as an Elmo balloon handler at the Stamford Thanksgiving Parade - Clowns, clowns and more clowns! The pair also opine about this and that. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2newyorkers1000opinions/message

Today is National Adoption Day, and I'm processing that in light of our previous foster daughter.

National Adoption Day (November 19th, 2022) is this week, and Kraus-Anderson's very own Kevin Magstadt and his wife, Kris, are recent recipients of the Angels in Adoption award. The two join the episode to share their inspiring story about the adoption of their two grandchildren, Kaiden and Michaela. Jaia Lent, the deputy executive director at Generations United, also joins the podcast. She shares how the nonprofit is a resource for families navigating adoption, as well as offers a wealth of knowledge about adoption overall. While we know there is a variety of adoption stories and circumstances, our episode is primarily focused on “grand-families.”

FASD Hope is a podcast series about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), through the lens of parent advocates with over twenty years of lived experience. November is National Adoption Month and FASD Hope is honored to highlight Andrew Bridge in Episode 162.  Leaving foster care at eighteen, Andrew Bridge attended Wesleyan University, then graduated from Harvard Law School and he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship. He began his legal career representing children in mental health facilities across Alabama. His work as an attorney and an advocate enforced children's constitutional rights to be free from staff abuse and to receive meaningful psychiatric care. Andrew returned home to Los Angeles as the CEO of The Alliance for Children's Rights. He defended children at MacLaren Hall, where he was once confined. He won the right for Los Angeles' 60,000 foster children to speak publicly about their treatment. He investigated the excessive removal of African-American babies from their parents, which led to one of the first government initiatives to stop it. Andrew is the Co-Founder of National Adoption Day. He went on to lead one of California's largest recruiters of foster and adoptive parents. Called to address the unjustified placement of foster children in mental institutions, Andrew has served as a Senior Advisor to the State of Illinois. His educational work resulted in the creation of New Village Girls Academy, California's first all-girls high school for parenting teens. Andrew serves on Arizona's Foster Care Review Board and he consults with child welfare systems and foundations. Andrew is also the author of the New York Times AND Los Angeles Times BEST SELLER book, "Hope's Boy: A Memoir". The Washington Post named "Hope's Boy" one of it's Best Books of the Year, with a review that called it "filled with vivid scenes and empathetic description...compulsively readable". In this THOUGHT-PROVOKING episode, Andrew shares: his personal journey and lived experience as a foster child in the Los Angeles Foster Care System, his journey in becoming an attorney and child rights advocate, insights and discussion points from "Hope's Boy", the punitive nature that was / still exists in child welfare systems, his thoughts on how to educate those in the child welfare system about FASD and other brain-based diagnoses, the beginnings of "National Adoption Day" in 2000 and how it's grown, his current work and initiatives and words of hope and encouragement. EPISODE RESOURCES - Andrew Bridge -  Hope's Boy - https://hopesboy.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-bridge-667860210/   FASD Hope Resources - https://www.fasdhope.com/ natalie@fasdhope.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fasdhope/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fasdhope1 Twitter - https://twitter.com/fasdhope LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-vecchione-17212160/ “HOPE FOR THE FASD JOURNEY COMMUNITY”, CO-LEAD BY NATALIE VECCHIONE AND SANDRA FLACH TO LEARN MORE ABOUT “HOPE FOR THE FASD JOURNEY” COMMUNITY OR TO SIGN UP, VISIT THE BELOW LINK -  https://www.justicefororphansny.org/hope-community   Check out our book “Blazing New Homeschool Trails: Educating and Launching Teens with Developmental Disabilities” by Natalie Vecchione & Cindy LaJoy BUY IT NOW!

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/

Transracial adoption, foster care, and interracial marriages create unique experiences for children and parents in Utah. Often, families need help navigating multiple cultures.  Stephanie Draper found herself in that situation as a teenager – luckily, she had a supportive parent. Together with Bri Ray, Stephanie founded the organization Raising Me, formerly known as Project Black Girl. Their mission is to provide hybrid education and community experiences for multicultural families that create opportunities for racial identity development and cultural understanding. In honor of National Adoption Day, Raising Me is hosting an event November 19th. Check out the Raising Me website for more details.  You can also follow Raising Me on Instagram @when_raisingme. Want to learn more about becoming a Foster Parent? 

153 million orphaned and vulnerable children and only half of one percent receive adoption (UNICEF)!  In this episode, you will hear Herbie Newell, Executive Director of Lifeline Children Services. The largest evangelical Christian adoption agency, Lifeline Children's Services explains in a refreshing and practical way the biblical imperative to care for orphans. The ministry's unconventional approach of caring for human life is not only by being “pro-life” but by “pro-human flourishing.” Herbie is passionate about visiting members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to advocate for orphans and the vulnerable. A resource library of over 500 articles and videos for information and education for you and your church are available from Lifeline Children Services. Their website is https://lifelinechild.org/. World Orphans Day is celebrated on November 14. The National Sanctity of Human Life Day is January 22 and the National Adoption Day is celebrated every November 19.

Today we celebrate all of the children who have been, are hoping to be, and those who became parents, by way of adoption - giving the gift of family. It's November 20 and today is National Adoption Day.https://todayaholiday.com/national-adoption-day/Photo by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash

Today Is African Industrialization Day,  Family Volunteer Day, Future Teachers of America Day,  Name Your PC Day, National Adoption Day,  National Peanut Butter Fudge Day, National Absurdity Day,  National Survivors of Suicide Day,  Playmobile's National Day of Play, Transgender Day of Remembrance, National Peanut Butter Fudge Day,  Universal Children's Day, and World Day of Prayer and Action for Children. Celebrate each day with the It's Today Podcast. Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and share with everyone you know.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Itstoday)

Adoption sounds like such a great thing!  Largely, because it is. Adoption can be an incredible experience in both the adopted child's life and the adoptive family's life.  But there is a reason that not everyone is doing it, nor should everyone do it.  Adoption can be very difficult.  It comes with many different challenges, some expected, many unexpected.  In this show, Linda and Merrill celebrate National Adoption Day by discussing the topic of adoption.  They refer to their own personal experience with adoption of their three children, and many others that helped by sharing their stories.  They discuss various types of adoptions from domestic to international.  They even talk about the bonding process between the child and the family. Depending on the situation this process of bonding can be relatively smooth, but it can also be a source of frustration and pain for all individuals involved. One thing is for certain, successful adoptions involved the heart.  The commitment is so deep and the work is plentiful.  If your heart is not fully open to this process, your logical mind will rationalize itself into failure.  In these cases, no one wins.  Prior to adopting children God needs to know your heart as you open up to Him and allow Him to lead your way.  God's hand will be needed on a daily basis as the road can sometimes be bumpy.  But, in the end, adoption is not just a great thing to do, it is what God calls many of us to do.  If you are interested in adoption or know someone that is, please share this show.  Feel free to reach out to us at rocksolidfamilies.org to ask questions or get more information. Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=0Gu_CU51XtrK1z7cJxUO4BlOgzML2iPZFzYxn5WvnE-59-sq_NHQrti0JG6z2k84mOVEWm&country.x=US&locale.x=US)

We're recapping 4 episodes in preparation for both a launch of season 3 AND dour 100th episode! Here's one of our favorites from season 2 with Rita SoronenFor 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 adoptive families for the more than 150,000 children waiting 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 2020, the Foundation dedicated more than $32.6 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.In October 2011, independent research results were released from a five-year rigorous evaluation of the Foundation's signature and groundbreaking program, Wendy's Wonderful Kids. The research proved that children referred to the program are up to three times more likely to be adopted. Since 2005, the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program has grown from seven pilot site grants to more than 475 sites across the U.S. and Canada. This program's evidence-based model is dedicated to moving those children most at risk of aging out of foster care into permanent families. More than 10,000 children have been adopted as a direct result of Wendy's Wonderful Kids. 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.Immediately 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 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 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 Adoption Exchange Association, Center for Adoption Support and Education, Children's Home Society of America, National Association of County Commissioners, National CASA Association and National Council for Adoption, 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 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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

1964-2021 Rarely at a loss for work, Garson had appeared in over 300 episodes of television and more than 70 films. Garson is best known for his long runs on television, as Mozzie on WHITE COLLAR, Stanford Blatch on SEX AND THE CITY, and Henry Coffield on NYPD BLUE. Other TV series include ASK HARRIET, and JOHN FROM CINCINNATTI. He had been recurring as the grifter with a heart of gold Gerard Hirsch on "HAWAII 5-0" since 2015. Born in New Jersey, he started training at The Actors Institute In New York, before majoring in Psychology and Theater at Wesleyan University. After graduation, he quickly started landing guest roles on shows such as CHEERS, FAMILY TIES, THIRTYSOMETHING, LA LAW, as well as continually recurring on a wide array of shows including XFILES, TWIN PEAKS, TWO & A HALF MEN, STARGATE, PUSHING DAISIES, THE PRACTICE, ALLY MCBEAL, JUST SHOOT ME, SPIN, SALVATION, etc etc. His favorite longform on TV was Dr. Kreutz for Steven Spielberg in the acclaimed miniseries TAKEN. On the big screen, other than reprising his SEX & THE CITY role for two features, he has collaborated with the Farrely Brothers on 3 films, SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, KINGPIN, and FEVER PITCH, as well as appearing in SOAPDISH, GROUNDHOG DAY, MARS ATTACKS, THE ROCK, BEING JOHN MALKOVITCH, FEED, POLKA KING, and many others. He has often been re-used by such varied directors as Spike Jonze, Michael Bay, the late great Mike Nichols, and Ron Shelton. Garson continued to perform with various bi-coastal theater companies such as Naked Angles, Manhattan Theater Club, The Roundabout Theater, and The Geffen. He is very involved with many charities, including AMFAR, Camp Joslin for Diabetes, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, and especially The Alliance for Childrens Rights, which facilitates adoptions in LA County---this has a special place in the Garson family, as Willie adopted his son Nathen in Los Angeles in 2010, and has twice served as National Spokesman for National Adoption Day, as well as winning the Francis Wheat Award from The Alliance, and many others. Willie and Nathen speak about adoption nationwide. Aside from acting, Garsonwas known as a world-class poker player, having been nicknamed "Evil Willie" on the first episode of CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN, and continued to play in tournaments all over the world, both for charity, and through the WORLD POKER TOUR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I was honored to have my friend Amber speak with me about her own adoption and her love of adoption. We discuss her adoption story, what it was like growing up in a family that did not have the same cultural, ethnic, or racial background as she did, and what her hopes are for adoption in the future.How can you get involved in adoption? What if you don’t feel like adopting a child is something you are supposed to do...do you still need to be involved?? YES!! And Amber gives us some suggestions. I know you will fall in love with her and her passion for adoption.Show NotesEpisode Originally Aired November 13, 2019Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/journeyofruth)

Today Is Family Volunteer Day, International Games Day, False Confession Day, National Adoption Day, National Gingerbread Day, National Red Mitten Day, National Stuffing Day, National Survivors of Suicide Day, Playmobile's National Day of Play, Pumpkin Pie Day, World Hello Day, and World Television DaySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Itstoday)

In this emotional episode, Host Dayne Jurjo Guests Chris “Spidey” Perez and is surprised with the amount of emotions felt throughout the entire episode about “Spidey's” legacy and his adoption story in honor of National Adoption Day coming up.

In this episode, host Kristin Kalning shares what she saw at the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle on November 22, 2019 — otherwise known as National Adoption Day. The majority of the children adopted that day were foster kids, adopted by their foster parents. And while it’s wonderful that these children now have permanency with their new families, says adoption attorney Janna Annest, it doesn’t erase the first part of their story. 

Listen on all the celebrations from National Adoption Day this past week, and hear from Joe, Maurine and Lisa about how important National Adoption Day really is.

This week's episode talks about national adoption month and thanksgiving! National Adoption Month and Day! November 23rd 2019 is National Adoption Day, which is so exciting as we know this is a huge day for families who are adopting children out of foster care! And National Adoption Month was created to promote adoption via foster care.  We are thankful for all the families that we know who have adopted - whether locally or internationally. Adoption is a multi-faceted and emotionally-charged topic, but when done with grace and humility, that's when the adoption triad can really thrive! Adoption Triad We have spoken about the adoption triad in passing several times, and it involves the Adoptee (person who was adopted), the Bio family, and the Adoptive family. When each side of the triangle is strong, and willing to do what is best for the adoptee, the triangle can be successful! Name Change? In this episode, we also touched on whether or not adoptive families have changed their adopted children's given names. We found that more people who responded to our poll DID change names. Reasons varied from safety, to letting children choose their new names, and giving family names. And reasons for not changing names was to allow children to keep one of the things that their parents gave to them. (Another family said they kept their birth names as middle names). There is no wrong answer to this, and I am thankful that we have also had input from adoptees themselves. It is important to do what is right for your adoptee and your family. The Good Word of the Day "Gratitude is one of the greatest Christian virtues; ingratitude is one of the most destructive sins. Ask God to open your eyes to all the blessings He has given you, and ask for a fresh spirit of gratitude - not just at this season of the year, but always." - Billy Graham, Hope For Each Day We hope you will all take time this week, as well as everyday, to find something wonderful to be grateful for. We understand some seasons are easier to do this in than others, but it's still important nonetheless! We talked about what an inspiration it was to hear Montel Williams talk about his battle with MS. He once said hat instead of focusing on foods he is no longer allowed to eat, he looks at the food he is able to eat (mostly veggies!) and thinks 'what a blessing that I have the privilege to eat this healthy food.' Focus on the positive and not the negatives!  And we also read this article that shared more about Motel and his amazing mindset:    "These days, Montel tries to think of his disease as a gift. "This is what God gave me," he says. Montel shares one of his calming techniques with Oprah, Dr. Oz and the audience. Close your eyes. Think back on a wonderful moment in your life. Take two deep breaths. Open your eyes. "I go to that place of gratitude," he says. "I go to that place of fulfillment and taking advantage of the small things." "   And when we can look at being foster and adoptive parents in the same light: that we have the privilege of taking care of these kids, instead of the burden, or inconvenience of the system, hopefully that will make this journey more enjoyable for everyone. We hope you are able to enjoy great meals with great people this week (and every week)! We are so thankful for you listeners! If you would like to connect: Jihae on Facebook Chris on Facebook Fostering Voices on Instagram Jihae on Instagram You can also email us at jihaeandchris@yahoo.com AND we would LOVE it if you would SUBSCRIBE and leave us a review on iTunes! This helps others to find our podcast so we can share these voices from the foster care and adoption community with more people!

National Adoption Day

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Episode 27: National Adoption Month #NationalAdoptionMonth  National Adoption Day is officially celebrated on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. National Adoption Awareness Month is here! It’s a month-long event to encourage people to learn about adoption, recognize people who have been impacted by adoption, and organize positive adoption-related events.  Facts About National Adoption Day: The awareness color for Adoption is White.National Adoption Day is observed annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.To date, the dreams of 75,000 children in foster care have come true as part of National Adoption Day events. A foster child usually has to wait nearly 4 years to be adopted, but more than 20,000 kids age out of the foster care system at age 18 every year without either forever family or permanent home. The aim of National Adoption Day is to provide forever families to as many children as possible. National Adoption Awareness Month is here! It’s a month-long event to encourage people to learn about adoption, recognize people who have been impacted by adoption, and organize positive adoption-related events. There are many ways you and your family can learn and participate this year! Retell Your Child’s Adoption Story to ThemSpread Awareness through Your Social MediaHave a Family Movie Month - Watch Positive Adoption-Related MoviesDonate Time and Money to a Local Organization that Supports AdoptionRead Adoption Related Books with your child If you are ready to begin your adoption plan or just want to learn more about adoption- The best thing to do is to call our 24hour/7 day a week phone number at 623-695-4112 .

Ilana and Willie conclude their conversation in this episode. Rarely at a loss for work, Garson has appeared in over 300 episodes of television and more than 70 films. Garson is best known for his long runs on television, as Mozzie on WHITE COLLAR, Stanford Blatch on SEX AND THE CITY, and Henry Coffield on NYPD BLUE. Other TV series include ASK HARRIET, and JOHN FROM CINCINNATTI. He has been recurring as the grifter with a heart of gold Gerard Hirsch on "HAWAII 5-0" since 2015. Born in New Jersey, he started training at The Actors Institute In New York, before majoring in Psychology and Theater at Wesleyan University. After graduation, he quickly started landing guest roles on shows such as CHEERS, FAMILY TIES, THIRTYSOMETHING, LA LAW, as well as continually recurring on a wide array of shows including XFILES, TWIN PEAKS, TWO & A HALF MEN, STARGATE, PUSHING DAISIES, THE PRACTICE, ALLY MCBEAL, JUST SHOOT ME, SPIN, SALVATION, etc etc. His favorite longform on TV was Dr. Kreutz for Steven Spielberg in the acclaimed miniseries TAKEN. On the big screen, other than reprising his SEX & THE CITY role for two features, he has collaborated with the Farrely Brothers on 3 films, SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, KINGPIN, and FEVER PITCH, as well as appearing in SOAPDISH, GROUNDHOG DAY, MARS ATTACKS, THE ROCK, BEING JOHN MALKOVITCH, FEED, POLKA KING, and many others. He has often been re-used by such varied directors as Spike Jonze, Michael Bay, the late great Mike Nichols, and Ron Shelton. Upcoming films include WALK TO VEGAS, MAGIC CAMP, and BELLMEN. As a director, Garson has directed episodes of WHITE COLLAR and GIRL MEETS WORLD, and, with Warner Brothers, is developing a half hour as producer/creator, which he will also appear in. LONE PINE, a feature for Garson to direct, is currently also in development. Garson continues to perform with various bi-coastal theater companies such as Naked Angles, Manhattan Theater Club, The Roundabout Theater, and The Geffen. He is very involved with many charities, including AMFAR, Camp Joslin for Diabetes, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, and especially The Alliance for Childrens Rights, which facilitates adoptions in LA County---this has a special place in the Garson family, as Willie adopted his son Nathen in Los Angeles in 2010, and has twice served as National Spokesman for National Adoption Day, as well as winning the Francis Wheat Award from The Alliance, and many others. Willie and Nathen speak about adoption nationwide. Aside from acting, Garson is known as a world-class poker player, having been nicknamed "Evil Willie" on the first episode of CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN, and continues to play in tournaments all over the world, both for charity, and through the WORLD POKER TOUR.

Rarely at a loss for work, Garson has appeared in over 300 episodes of television and more than 70 films. Garson is best known for his long runs on television, as Mozzie on WHITE COLLAR, Stanford Blatch on SEX AND THE CITY, and Henry Coffield on NYPD BLUE. Other TV series include ASK HARRIET, and JOHN FROM CINCINNATTI. He has been recurring as the grifter with a heart of gold Gerard Hirsch on "HAWAII 5-0" since 2015. Born in New Jersey, he started training at The Actors Institute In New York, before majoring in Psychology and Theater at Wesleyan University. After graduation, he quickly started landing guest roles on shows such as CHEERS, FAMILY TIES, THIRTYSOMETHING, LA LAW, as well as continually recurring on a wide array of shows including XFILES, TWIN PEAKS, TWO & A HALF MEN, STARGATE, PUSHING DAISIES, THE PRACTICE, ALLY MCBEAL, JUST SHOOT ME, SPIN, SALVATION, etc etc. His favorite longform on TV was Dr. Kreutz for Steven Spielberg in the acclaimed miniseries TAKEN. On the big screen, other than reprising his SEX & THE CITY role for two features, he has collaborated with the Farrely Brothers on 3 films, SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, KINGPIN, and FEVER PITCH, as well as appearing in SOAPDISH, GROUNDHOG DAY, MARS ATTACKS, THE ROCK, BEING JOHN MALKOVITCH, FEED, POLKA KING, and many others. He has often been re-used by such varied directors as Spike Jonze, Michael Bay, the late great Mike Nichols, and Ron Shelton. Upcoming films include WALK TO VEGAS, MAGIC CAMP, and BELLMEN. As a director, Garson has directed episodes of WHITE COLLAR and GIRL MEETS WORLD, and, with Warner Brothers, is developing a half hour as producer/creator, which he will also appear in. LONE PINE, a feature for Garson to direct, is currently also in development. Garson continues to perform with various bi-coastal theater companies such as Naked Angles, Manhattan Theater Club, The Roundabout Theater, and The Geffen. He is very involved with many charities, including AMFAR, Camp Joslin for Diabetes, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, and especially The Alliance for Childrens Rights, which facilitates adoptions in LA County---this has a special place in the Garson family, as Willie adopted his son Nathen in Los Angeles in 2010, and has twice served as National Spokesman for National Adoption Day, as well as winning the Francis Wheat Award from The Alliance, and many others. Willie and Nathen speak about adoption nationwide. Aside from acting, Garson is known as a world-class poker player, having been nicknamed "Evil Willie" on the first episode of CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN, and continues to play in tournaments all over the world, both for charity, and through the WORLD POKER TOUR.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. So of course I asked my friend Amber to come on and talk about her own adoption and her love of adoption. We discuss her adoption story, what it was like growing up in a family that did not have the same cultural, ethnic, or racial background as she did, and what her hopes are for adoption in the future.How can you get involved in adoption? What if you don’t feel like adopting a child is something you are supposed to do...do you still need to be involved?? YES!! And Amber gives us some suggestions. vI just love her and her passion for the subject and I know you will too!!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/journeyofruth)

On this weeks' edition of Talking Greyhounds, Simone Fisher and JT look back at the week that was in Greyhound Racing. Simone talks with GRV's Greyhound Re-homing Manager  Sean Stanton ahead of the National Adoption Day on Sunday and trainer Matthew Wright, who has Lightning Frank engaged in next Wednesday nights' Group 2 Warrnambool Cup. Simone has her best bet for the weekend, run of the week and dog to follow.

Elena and Paul stopped by the Open Ninth studio to speak with Chief Judge Lauten about their journey as foster care parents and, now, adoptive parents. Together, they have five biological children, two foster children, and have recently adopted a baby boy. Elena and Paul explain that fostering children has its challenges, but the opportunity to help bring positive change and improvement to the lives of so many children is extremely rewarding. Over the years, they have cared for over two dozen foster children. Elena explains how the children usually enter the home broken, afraid, and insecure but over time become happy, relaxed, and positive about life. They credit their success to the passion they have for children. After years of serving as foster care parents, they met a week-old newborn named Marco. Elena and Paul immediately fell in love. On, November 17, 2017, during a National Adoption Day ceremony, little Marco became a part of their permanent family. On that day, nearly 30 other children were welcomed into their “Forever Families” during companion ceremonies in Orange and Osceola counties. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent or adopting a child, please visit these websites: www.cbccfl.org www.myflfamilies.com Let us know what you think about the podcast.

Adoption statistics; Thanksgiving Traditions

In case you missed Jillian's live podcast...learn about The Perfect Squat

Download the .mp3(Right Click, Save Target As...)How adoption finalization of our beautiful baby daughter went at the courthouse on National Adoption Day.

If you or anyone you know has ever considered being an adoptive parent, this is the show for you. National Adoption Day is about finding a permanent placement for children who have been living in the foster care system because of the neglect, abuse, or abandonment of their family of origin. It's time for these kids to find a FOREVER FAMILY who will love, nurture, and support them throughout their life's journey. Go to www.nationaladoptionday.org for links and lots more.

While recording on National Adoption Day this year, I referred back to a question I've raised in the past: whether a woman who carries an unwanted pregnancy to term and gives the child for adoption is performing a saintly act?  "Heroic" is, perhaps, a better term. Different Drummer: Thomas of Aquino National Adoption Day

In this bonus episode in honor of National Adoption Day on November 19, Jamie Ivey shares what she wishes she and her husband knew when they started the adoption process, and talks about her new parenting podcast.LINKSNationalAdoptionDay.orgJamieIvey.comLaunch podcast with Jamie Ivey and Lisa WhittleA special thank you to our partners of this week's episode:Explorer Bible for Kids - Learn more at explorerbibleforkids.com. Buy your copy today from Lifeway.com and get 50% off using code RBG.EveryPlate - Get started with EveryPlate for just $1.49 per meal on your first box by going to EveryPlate and entering code rbg149.