Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Too often, low-income families don't qualify for the federal adoption tax credit. A federal bill could change that, writes Ryan Hanlon.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has again ranked the 100 American employers that best support workers who are adoptive parents.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA) – which oversees Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, one of the nation’s most successful permanency ventures – is a decent microcosm of what’s going on in the wide community of nonprofits that are facing an uncertain spring after the onset of a global pandemic.

Today I woke up at 6:30 a.m., ate breakfast cooked on a camping stove, changed, brushed my teeth and filled my water bottles. I walked past my current home, a white Chevy van with a red tent on top and a green stripe on the side, and started running.

Back in 2004, there were more than 118,000 kids waiting to be adopted from foster care. Advocates, child welfare professionals and policymakers across the U.S. were desperate for solutions that would land these vulnerable youngsters in the homes of loving, permanent families.

Last month, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption released its 11th annual survey of the Top 100 Adoption Friendly Workplaces. The list highlights the country’s top companies offering paid reimbursement and leave packages for adoptive parents.

Many of us have spent years aggressively advocating for families and for children and youth in foster care who cannot return home. This year, we have an opportunity on Capitol Hill to ensure that even more children achieve the ultimate goal of having a permanent, loving family who can meet their needs.

The United States and its northern neighbor are plagued by many of the same child welfare system challenges. Recent reports have suggested there is a “foster-parent crisis” in Canada, citing a drastic lack of qualified foster parents relative to the number of children in need of foster homes.