Podcast appearances and mentions of rita soronen

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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

Kristin Sukraw, an award-winning storyteller and film producer with a passion for bringing nonprofit narratives to life, gives us a masterclass in finding and telling our nonprofit's best stories. Kristin introduces essential interviewing techniques that transform the way stories are told and received.  Techniques like 'embracing the pause', 'doing the dip', and 'effective restatements.' Kristin and Dolph also tackle potential concerns about re-traumatizing former clients and the ethics of asking individuals to recount personal stories. And Kristen outlines how to invite individuals to share their experience in a way that leads to healing and a sense of pride. The conversation also explores the importance of selecting the right storyteller, advocating for the inclusion of quieter voices that often carry profound stories, and constructing a 'story vault' to organize potential narratives. This episode is a treasure trove for nonprofit leaders looking to harness the power of storytelling to advance their mission. Recommended Episodes: The Story Your Voice Tells with Tracy Goodwin on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website Become Your Nonprofit's Brand Ambassador with Rita Soronen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website Links Mentioned In This Episode: Kristin's Website Kristin's Instagram Atomic Ranch Homes

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!

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.

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

While both fundraising and marketing are crucial components of a nonprofit's success, they are often seen as separate entities. But the truth is that they are deeply interconnected and should be integrated to achieve maximum impact. In today's podcast, Rita Soronen from Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss running an integrated fundraising and marketing team for your nonprofit.

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!  

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

(PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE) - Ohioans are encouraged to learn more about youths in need of a forever family during National Adoption Month. Comments from Laurene Sweet, adoptive parent from Euclid; and Rita Soronen (sounds like “soar-in.”), president and CEO, Dave Thomas Foundation. How you can connect with us Subscribe to the podcast Ways you can support the show Check out our latest podcasts Connect with Chris Pugh on social media Ways you can save money Check out our latest contests --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theohioan/message

(PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE) - Ohioans are encouraged to learn more about youths in need of a forever family during National Adoption Month. Comments from Laurene Sweet, adoptive parent from Euclid; and Rita Soronen (sounds like “soar-in.”), president and CEO, Dave Thomas Foundation. How you can connect with us Subscribe to the podcast Ways you can support the show Check out our latest podcasts Connect with Chris Pugh on social media Ways you can save money Check out our latest contests --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theohioan/message

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

00:00 Show Open / Van Pichler, National Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, discusses invasive species in Ohio. 10:30 Courtesy of our sister station, WBNS 10-TV, Brittany Bailey takes a look back at Intel's groundbreaking in New Albany earlier this month, where President Biden spoke; Kevin Landers talks to State Senator Jay Hottinger about concerns some people have about the development; a school district near Bellefontaine is considering arming teachers or other staff; and survivors of human trafficking recently gathered at the Ohio Statehouse. 37:30 Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas foundation for Adoption, which focuses on securing homes for older children in need of adoption.

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/

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:

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/

On this episode of Mississippi Stories, Mississippi Today Editor-At-Large Marshall Ramsey sits down with Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Under her leadership, the Foundation has significantly increased its grant-making while developing strategic initiatives that act on the urgency of the issue. Marshall caught up with Ms. Soronen when she was in Mississippi to announce a partnership with the Mississippi Department of Children Protection Services.

Are you an adoptive or foster parent or someone interested or in the process of waiting to adopt? Rita has years of leadership experience in agencies and foundations that strive to create permanence for vulnerable children and youth. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and specifically the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program are resources you should know about. When I was in the process of adopting our girls, I remember how completely nebulous and complicated it felt to try and decide (and then explain to our social worker and adoption agency) what we thought we could parent well, who we could envision folding into our family and how we would see ourselves navigate family life, connections with birth families, and so much more. If you're curious about the process of adopting from government systems of care, if you have questions or concerns about what that would look like, or want to think through the ins and outs of advocating for a really strong match, I hope you'll spend this 30 minutes with us. I found our conversation so helpful and I hope you will too.To learn more about the work and programs Rita is connected to, check out these links:Dave Thomas Foundation for AdoptionDTFA on IGDTFA on FBWendy's Wonderful KidsLet's stay informed, connected and supported through our fostering and adoptive journeys!And if you are a couple waiting to adopt or early in the growth of your adoptive family, we want to provide you with the resources to be at your best. If you're interested in cementing your couple relationship and learn about crucial adoption and parenting related topics to prepare you well, please check out the online course Adoption: What to do while you wait. You can use coupon code DTFA50 to access it at half price for the month of February! Once you have it, you can use it at your own pace!Wishing you connection and fortitude,Karen

DaveThomasFoundation.org has been exceptional at leveraging collaborations with entities that further their mission and work on adoption and foster care.  Hear from CEO, Rita Soronen on the best attributes of collaboration and overcoming fears and factors of maintaining individual organizational identities.//. . . This is a recent episode of The Nonprofit Show --the Nation's daily live streaming broadcast where the Nonprofit Community comes together. Each weekday the hosts and their guests cover current relevant nonprofit topics with fresh ideas to help your nonprofit achieve its mission, vision, and values. Learn more . . . https://bit.ly/34yEYk1Signup to Watch the Live Nonprofit show and receive a show time reminder:   http://bit.ly/3nxnADfThe Nonprofit Show is a production from the American Nonprofit Academy   http://bit.ly/2LsVonuThe American Nonprofit Academy provides our Nation's nonprofit community collective News, Inspirations, and Training.If you lead or work for a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) or are thinking of starting a nonprofit--, The Nonprofit Show is an excellent resource of current nonprofit information and operating strategies. Each weekday there are new guest experts and thought leaders on the fast-paced 30-minute LIVE show—with topics ranging across nonprofit boards, foundations, grants, volunteer managers, donor relations, fundraising experts, NPO marketing, grant writers, philanthropy donors, nonprofit legal and tax professionals, CFRE info, nonprofit software and nonprofit apps providers, Nonprofit CRM programs, charity tax expertise, virtual galas, charity auctions, online nonprofit charity event programs, Nonprofit strategic planning, fundraising and fund development, fiscal sponsorships, capital campaigns, donation management, nonprofit jobs, nonprofit HR, nonprofit classes and training, global NGO organizations, as well as nonprofit sector Thought Leaders.If you are starting a nonprofit, The Nonprofit Show is an outstanding way to ask questions and see the trends in charity, as well as obtain nonprofit technical support from specific nonprofit consultants.  #fundraising #nonprofit #nonprofits 

Have you ever eaten a meal at Wendy's? Have you ever perused the list of top Adoption Friendly Workplaces? Have you ever felt an ache in your heart about children who are in foster care, growing up without a permanent family taking care of them, loving the...

It is National Adoption Awareness Month and joining us today is Rita Soronen who is the President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. More information on these topics is at www.asrm.org Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Tell us your thoughts on the show by e-mailing asrm@asrm.org Please subscribe and rate the show on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. ASRM Today Series Podcasts are supported in part by the ASRM Corporate Member Council

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.

The need is great. These children are vulnerable to a big world that can turn cold quickly. How can we create permanency and continue to advocate for them? We are pleased to welcome Rita Soronen, President and CEO of The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, to the show to talk about this. A little more about Rita Soronen and The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption... Rita Soronen is the President and CEO of The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which 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.

In this episode we are talking about Fostering Change, a platform where we speak about foster care and adoption with the CEO and president of the Dave Thomas foundation for Adoption, Rita Soronen.Rita’s foundation is expanding with their signature adoption program: Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program that started in 2004, and celebrated 10.000 adoptions last year. Through this platform, not only do they raise awareness but it is also about emerging best practices across the country. They created the program Child Focus Recruitment, based on some emerging social practices.Why are so many kids in foster care? Is foster care the answer? There are many cases of abuse, abandonment, neglect, but the ones that are the most concerning are the cases of kids who aged out of the system and are on their own once they must leave the foster care. One might think that these kids are doing just fine being out there on their own, but we forget they are not permitted to make a mistake since they have no one to lean on.Every child deserves to have permanency and a foundation, but not all kids are lucky enough to find their forever family. We are truly hoping that we will find even more strategies to find homes with people who are ready to open up their hearts. They are OUR children and we have to advocate for them since change comes about when we talk about it!davethomasfoundation.orgfacebook.com/DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption/IG and Twitter @dtfa linkedin.com/company/dave-thomas-foundation-for-adoption/#FosterCareAdoption#AdoptionAdvocate#AdoptionAwareness See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Show Summary: A wonderful and deep conversation with Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Chapters: 0:00 - Welcome, Rita!! 1:24 - Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption(Yes, *that* Dave Thomas!) 3:34 - Raising Awareness for Foster Care and Adoption 5:53 - Wendy’s Wonderful Kids 13:44 - The Birthright of Every Child Is To Have a Home - Beginner’s Guide to Adoption 17:48 - How Can You Get Involved or Support These Kids? 22:15 - "These Children Are Not Someone Else's Responsibility, They Are Our Responsibility"  23:01 - Good Word of The Day!!  25:13 - Something Simple Bringing You Joy Right Now Show Notes: Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Wendy’s Wonderful Kids  Beginner’s Guide to Adoption  DTFA on Instagram Our Website Find us on IG

The Dave Thomas Foundation recently celebrated its 10,000th adoption of a child from foster care and the milestone was reached during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation was created by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas as an independent non-profit foundation separate from the restaurant chain, says Rita Soronen, CEO of the Foundation. The Foundation focuses on the adoption of children who have been in foster care the longest and those who might soon turn 18 without being adopted by a family. It works with its Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program which partners with private and public adoption agencies to fund specially trained adoption recruiters. These recruiters work specifically to find adoptive homes for teenagers, children with special needs, and siblings who have been in foster care the longest, according to Soronen. The Dave Thomas Foundation tries to find adoptive homes for children before they “age-out” of foster care – turn 18 or 21 years of age depending on the state. The Foundation understands that if a child ages-out of foster care they are more likely to be homeless, unemployed, and face a myriad of other issues. The Foundation also has been urging states to put moratoria on youth’s aging-out of the system during the COVID pandemic, says Soronen. To date, through Soronen’s efforts, the Foundation has convinced 9 states and the District of Columbia to enact such moratoria. The COVID-19 crisis has presented special problems for the Foundation’s work, but it has successfully pivoted to find ways of continuing its adoption efforts even through pandemic isolation. The Foundation was recently highlighted by the “New York Times” for its pandemic efforts.

A lot of you know from following Jen on social media or listening to the episode with Rita Soronen from season one, that she is a celebrity ambassador for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. So today, we decided to host a panel of recruiters from their Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program to learn more about how their signature adoption program works. Jen will be joined by: Shantell Lewis -a Wendy’s wonderful kids adoption recruiter from New York City.Tasha Rihm- a Wendy’s wonderful kids adoption recruiter from Indianapolis.And Chelsey Winegar -Wendy’s wonderful kids supervisor overseeing recruiters in Utah.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost everyone, but the epidemic poses unique challenges to children in foster care. Host Sarah Fenske talks with Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption,about the unique challenges facing kids in foster care right now. Also joining the conversation is t. Louis-based foster care recruiter Edna Green, who recently helped in the adoption of three St. Louis siblings. We also talk with their newly adoptive mother, Celeste Scott.

Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, joins Jen for Episode 2! For more information on how to get involved, head to https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

Dr. Amy Acton, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, discusses the history and progression of the coronavirus in Ohio, and how to protect yourself. State Representative Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati), Ohio Republican Party strategist Terry Casey, Capital University Professor Suzanne Marilley, and Columbus Dispatch reporter Randy Ludlow. They discuss the state's response to the coronavirus epidemic. Michael Cook, Chief of the Public Information Office at the U.S. Census Bureau. Wrapping up the hour is Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Columbus-based Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

Rita Soronen has been working on behalf of vulnerable children for decades and has been doing so for the Dave Thomas Foundation for many of those years. Today I spoke with her about why the work DTFA does is *so* vital right now — and what moves her to dedicate her life to this cause. You’ve heard of Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s restaurant? What you may not know is that he left a way more important legacy than hamburger’s when he died. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is the only public nonprofit charity in the United States that is focused exclusively on foster care adoption. It’s National Adoption Month and the reason I was so pumped to speak with Rita is because DTFA has found a way to get older kids adopted out of foster care at higher rates than in the past. This is an incredible accomplishment and so important for these kids, who too often linger in the system until adulthood, only to then suffer awful hardships like addiction, homelessness, depression and more. To move the needle for this demographic is a massive accomplishment and we need to get the message out there. Through their “Wendy’s Wonderful Kids” program, they are truly making a difference. Listen in and see how you can be a part of this important change. What we talked about: * Dave Thomas Foundation* Wendy’s Wonderful Kids* Children’s Rights* DC Family & Youth Initiative* Marian Wright Edelman* Just Mercy Connect with Rita & DTFA: * Facebook* Twitter (DTFA)* Twitter (personal)* Instagram Recent Episodes: * Bobbi McCormick: Letting God Lead When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned* Jess Ekstrom: CEO & Founder of ‘Headbands of Hope’ Paves the Way for Women* Stephanie Lobdell: Where is God in the Everyday Struggle?

Host Dawn Davenport, Exec. Director of Creating a Family, the national infertility & adoption education and support nonprofit, interviews Debra S. Waller, Chief Executive Officer, Jockey International, Inc. and founder of Jockey Being Family Foundation; Rita Soronen, President and CEO of Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption; and Susan Cox, Vice President of Public Policy at Holt International. Creating a Family has many free resources related to this topic on our website at www.CreatingaFamily.org.  Please leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks. Click to Tweet: https://ctt.ec/bFdOs Share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A//creatingafamily.org/adoption-category/supporting-families-adopt/ Show Highlights: https://creatingafamily.org/adoption-category/supporting-families-adopt/ Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Rita Soronen and her team at the Dave Thomas Foundation, have dedicated thier lives to helping orphans find safe and loving families. The impact of thier research and work, have helped countless families come together.

Rita Soronen and her team at the Dave Thomas Foundation, have dedicated thier lives to helping orphans find safe and loving families. The impact of thier research and work, have helped countless families come together.

Children who have been in foster care are a special group of children to be adopted. Currently more than 110,000 children are waiting in this category for adoptive parents. However, more than 20,000 will leave foster care without ever being adopted increasing their risks for anti-social behaviors as adults. These figures are the result of a recent national survey conducted by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity. One of its main purposes is to find adoptive parents for these foster care children. Rita Soronen, the President and CEO of the foundation talked with SPECTRUM about this issue. She says that 80 percent of Americans who consider adoption now consider adopting a foster child. This is a significant increase over the past five years. Foster children are often children taken away from birth parents by court orders for their safety. Instead, they are put in foster homes for their care. The study shows that four out of five children in foster care are there through no fault or actions of their own. “These children are just like any other child. They’ve simply had a rough start in life,” Soronen says. “But they are available for adoption and they deserve to find a permanent family and a safe home.” The Foundation works to find adoptive families that meet each child’s individual needs especially for children with special needs or siblings that need to stay together, according to Soronen. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption was started by the founder of Wendy’s restaurants in 2001. It has multiple initiatives and grant programs that promote adoption. In 2015, the Foundation spent more than $17 million in grants and awareness initiatives for adoption related activities in the United States and Canada.

There are many myths surrounding adopting from foster care. It is hard to do? Do the kids have all sorts of problems? How much does it cost.  Host Dawn Davenport, Executive Director of Creating a Family, the national infertility & adoption education and support nonprofit, interviews Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. For more than 30 years, she has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children, providing leadership for local, state and national efforts. For a discussion of this show, go to our blog tomorrow http://creatingafamily.org/blog/.  Creating a Family has many free resources related to this foster care adoptin on our website at www.CreatingaFamily.org.  If you enjoyed this show, we would very much appreciate you leaving us a review on iTunes. Either go to this website (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id266386337) or if you have iTunes on your phone, tablet or computer, simply type in "Creating a Family", click on Ratings/Reviews, and click on the # of stars. It only takes a moment and it really helps others find us. Thanks. Show Highlights Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

In this episode of the Fund Your Adoption Podcast, Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption, shares her wealth of foster care adoption experience and helps us separate the facts from the fiction. We discuss ways to overcome your fears and steps to get started with foster care adoption along with a ton of resources available to adoptive families.