One organization wants to help the longest waiting children in Arizona s foster-care system find their way into loving, adoptive family homes. Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, said Arizona was one of the first states where they launched their Wendy s Wonderful Kids Program, a child-focused recruitment model, which Soronen noted works to help children with a higher likelihood of going through the foster care system and not being adopted. Soronen added the goal is to get enough youths adopted from the foster system, so the state can then use the savings to pay for the program independently. .
A few years ago, Minnesota launched a pilot program to give communities of color more power to improve outcomes for child development as they continue to address long-standing disparities. Supporters hope for robust support as lawmakers decide on extending funding. At this stage of the Legislative session, larger spending bills do include additional support for the Community Solutions for Healthy Child Development Grants. .
Adoption recruiters in Ohio are helping older kids transition out of foster care and begin life with the right family. Aaron McGregor, a nurse from Mansfield, said a colleague first told her about 15-year-old Samantha in 2020, as she and her husband were beginning the process of applying for a foster care license. McGregor explained that Samantha was born without some of her organs and was placed in foster care as a toddler because of medical neglect. .