Angels in Adoption award
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| Formation | 2001 |
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| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
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Executive Director
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Becky Weichhand |
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The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is an American non-partisan, non-profit organization "dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes through adoption; and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right of a family." CCAI seeks to educate and inform Members of Congress in adoption, foster care, and child welfare issues that affect their constituents. This is done through congressional briefings, leadership training programs, educational trips, and other notable programs. The Institute's work is entirely funded by donations and gifts from organizations and individuals like the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
CCAI is known for its annual Angels in Adoption award, which allows Members of Congress to nominate a constituent for their work in the adoption, foster care, and child welfare community. Each year, there are several National Angels, individuals or groups that work on a national or global level, are honored. Past recipients include Alonzo Mourning,Darryl McDaniels,Laura Bush,Jane Seymour,Bruce Willis, and Rosie O'Donnell.
Jerry Sandusky was given an Angels in Adoption Award in 2002 for his work with the Second Mile Foundation. It was rescinded in 2011 in response to child sexual abuse charges against Sandusky.
The Foster Youth Internship program places undergraduate and graduate college students who have been in the foster care system in congressional offices for a summer. The purpose of the program is "to bring attention to the policy and procedural barriers that trap children in the foster care system." The experience is documented at the end of each year's program as a briefing to Members of Congress and the press, highlighting urgent and continuing issues in foster child welfare.
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