Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

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Curtis Powell
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1 Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Better Together: Columbus Roundtable Promising Practices Panel Rita L. Soronen President & CEO DAVETHOMASFOUNDATION.ORG 800-ASK-DTFA ( )

2 These children are not someone else s responsibility. They are our responsibility. ~Dave Thomas

3 Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Mission: Dramatically increase the adoption of children from North America s foster care systems Vision: Every child will have a permanent home and a nurturing family Core Values: Every child deserves a safe, nurturing and permanent home No child should leave foster care without a permanent family The issue must be addressed with a sense of urgency Every child waiting to be adopted is adoptable

Values: Every child deserves a safe, nurturing and permanent home No child should leave foster care without

4 Children in U.S. Foster Care 399,546 abused, neglected or abandoned children currently in U.S. foster care 101,719 of these children are waiting to be adopted The average child waiting to be adopted is: 8 years old in care for 4 years or more has experienced multiple moves In 2012: 20,251 children turned 18 and left foster care without a family In 2012: 20,095 children were in long-term foster care and moving toward aging out

foster care 101,719 of these children are waiting to be adopted The average child waiting to be adopted is:

6 Wendy s Wonderful Kids Why Youth growing up and aging out of care Post Adoption and Safe Families Act (1998), adoptions of younger children outpaced older children In 1998 approximately 17,300 youth emancipated from care, compared with more than 20,251 in 2012 (another 20,095 had a case goal plan of long-term foster care ) Resource challenges across the nation Lack of evidence-based practices (public displays, general recruitment) Inconsistent accountability Older youth, youth with disabilities, youth in institutional or group care, youth opposed to adoption, sibling groups identified as unadoptable

long-term foster care ) Resource challenges across the nation Lack of evidence-based practices (public displays, general recruitment) Inconsistent

7 CHILD REFERRAL Case record review Relationship with the child Recruitment plan Network building Diligent search Assessment of adoption readiness Adoption preparation (family & child) ADOPTION

8 Wendy s Wonderful Kids Evidence-based results Wendy s Wonderful Kids substantially and significantly increases adoptions from foster care. Child Trends A child served by a Wendy s Wonderful Kids recruiter is 1.7 times more likely to be adopted than a child not served by Wendy s Wonderful Kids For older children, the impact of the WWK model is greater (up to 3 times more likely) Children with mental health disorders are more than 3 times more likely to be adopted when served by WWK than those not served by a WWK recruiter

7 times more likely to be adopted than a child not served by Wendy s Wonderful Kids For older children, the impact of the WWK model

9 Wendy s Wonderful Kids Where 196 Funded sites 10,291 Children served 6,802 Children matched 589 Pre-adoptive placements 4,004 Adoptions Child-focused recruitment model Accountable grants Evidence-based practice Children adopted: 65% age 9 or older; 33% 13 or older 43% adopted with siblings 48% have at least one disability 33% have been in the system for more than 4 years; 6% more than 10 years 11% in group home, institution or independent living 20% had failed adoptions prior to WWK

older; 33% 13 or older 43% adopted with siblings 48% have at least one disability 33% have been in the system for more

10 Wendy s Wonderful Kids Moving forward Partnership with Annie E. Casey Foundation to develop national childfocused recruitment curriculum Ohio scaling and return on investment: ODJFS estimates $31.9 million return on $3 million investment realized from 7 DTFA privately funded recruiters, and $115 million savings anticipated from statewide expansion with ODJFS funds. Conversations with targeted states to scale use of child-focused recruitment model Additional state commitments to embed curriculum Federal and state policy activity Released new PSA/poster campaign focusing on parents points of views and older youth adoption

9 million return on $3 million investment realized from 7 DTFA privately funded recruiters, and $115 million savings anticipated from statewide expansion with ODJFS

Wendy s Wonderful Kids Moving forward Enhanced child wellbeing Manualized evidencebased curriculum Fiscal savings Adoptions Stable & solid families Policy Less

11 Wendy s Wonderful Kids Moving forward Enhanced child wellbeing Manualized evidencebased curriculum Fiscal savings Adoptions Stable & solid families Policy Less strain on workforce Practice Fiscal savings Adoptions Practice Stronger communities Financing WWK Research Sense of urgency Increased adoptions Program Growth Partnerships

Less strain on workforce Practice Fiscal savings Adoptions Practice Stronger

12 Unadoptable is Unacceptable DAVETHOMASFOUNDATION.ORG 800-ASK-DTFA ( )

Contents. I. Introduction and Purpose. Panel Members. Overview: Wendy s. Recommendations to Scale the WWK Model A. Funding. V. Conclusion.

Contents. I. Introduction and Purpose. Panel Members. Overview: Wendy s. Recommendations to Scale the WWK Model A. Funding. V. Conclusion. Contents I. Introduction and Purpose II. III. IV. Panel Members Overview: Wendy s Recommendations to Scale the WWK Model A. Funding B. Communication and Outreach C. Policy V. Conclusion References I. Introduction