Is Your Workplace Adoption-Friendly ? My Three Sons

Today the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption released its annual list of the ?100?Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces.?? And whether your place of employment or small business is or is not on the list, there is much we can all do to make?our workplaces more supportive of adoptive parents and their families.?

Below is an interview with Rita Soronen, the President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.? In it she reveals how any business can earn this important designation?and why they should.

Please share this post on your Facebook page, with your employer, with your friends who have their own businesses.? The benefits?especially for?children?are immense.

SH:? As President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, what motivates you to do the important work you do?

RS:? For me, there is no more important effort than one on behalf of a child. Today, in America, there are more than 100,000 children who have suffered abuse or neglect at the hands of the very people who should have nurtured and protected them. And the abuse was at such a level that judges have permanently separated them from their families of birth. These children, through no fault of their own, are not only adrift in the foster care system without families, but the longer they are there, the more at risk they are of growing up in care and leaving without being adopted. Every child deserves a safe family and a nurturing home ? and yet last year nearly 30,000 children turned 18 and left foster care, on their own. Until every child waiting to be adopted is adopted, I am driven to do this work.???

SH:? In your experience, what is the number-one reason small businesses do not seek out the designation of ?Adoption-Friendly Workplace,? and what is the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption doing to remedy this?

RS:? We know there is a misperception that these benefits must be either too expensive to implement, or that a business is too small to even think about something like this. We are working very hard to make sure that all workplaces understand that the menu of adoption benefits is available to all businesses, and ranges from time off (paid or unpaid) to financial reimbursement for some adoption expenses ? whatever works best for the bottom line of the business. If a small business acknowledges the needs of families formed through birth by providing benefits, it is only fair to also acknowledge those families formed through adoption by providing benefits as well.

SH:? What kinds of supports does the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption provide to small businesses?

RS:? We have professional staff to talk through the steps to implementing adoption benefits, free toolkits, sample benefit packages and templates for small businesses, and links to other HR professionals from similar-sized companies to help work through the implementation of benefits. Our national annual 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List also celebrates and honors those businesses, by industry and size, that have worked to make their places of business adoption-friendly, and recognizes those on the list as leaders in this effort.

SH:? The benefit of this designation to children and their families is clear. What is the benefit of this designation to a small business?

RS:? We hear?time and again from employees that they feel workplace adoption benefits shows that their place of business is family-friendly, understands that adoptive families have many of the same needs as birth families, and creates a deeper sense of loyalty to the company.??

SH:? How can a business get started implementing these important benefits today?

RS:? It?s easy! Call us at 877-777-4222 to talk with our staff, or go to our website to get started.

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Source: http://samanthahines.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/is-your-workplace-adoption-friendly/

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