The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA) along with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) hosted a roundtable discussion to celebrate corporate leaders in Adoption Friendly Workplaces as well as move the dialog forward on how to support and advocate for increased access to workplace benefits.
For over 30 years, The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, has led the initiative advocating for adoption benefits in the workplace. And since that time, they have seen big strides in how companies are supporting their employees. According to the 2024 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace Survey, the average financial reimbursement was $16,422, weeks of paid leave for adoptive parents was 9.6.
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, a non-partisan organization, has advocated for workplace benefits for adoption as part of its mission to eliminate barriers that hinder children from their right to a permanent family. Recognizing that financial constraints can be a significant deterrent to adoption, the CCAI has actively advocated for the inclusion of adoption benefits in employee benefit packages. CCAI aims to make adoption a more accessible and affordable option for families, ultimately helping more children find loving, permanent homes.
Vesta Vice President of Operations, Lisa Schuster, joined in with members of the CCAI, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and industry leaders for a discussion on the importance of holistic employee benefits and making sure families aren’t left behind with benefits that only support traditional family-building.
Kimm Isgar, Director of Benefits with Akin, offered this advice to companies considering adding in adoption and family building benefits. Just get started, take that first step. Your family-building benefits don’t have to be perfect on day one. Andrew Lewis, Partner and Founder, KPMG National Foster Care and Adoption Network, added the advice to continually review benefits to ensure they meet the needs of employees and that they aren’t left with uneven and inequitable benefits. If your company offers maternity benefits but not any other family-building benefits, you are only supporting those families that are able to and choose to build their family in the traditional way. Both Akin and KPMG are leaders in the field and celebrated on the 100 Best Adoption Friendly Workplaces of 2024, aligning a benefits package with their corporate culture.
Accessible family-building is at the heart of the services from Vesta for Families, enabling employers to offer world class, holistic benefits to their employees through cost conscious benefit plans. Vesta continues to advocate for employees building their families through alternative methods, like adoption, through their support of foundations and organizations like The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
