Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children, in New York, NY, was recognized as a top 100 Adoption-Friendly Workplace by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, America’s only nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding homes for children in foster care. Spence-Chapin Services to Families & Children will be recognized as #86-tie in the United States, #5 in the Non-profit industry and as the #5 Small employer. 

“Receiving recognition of our team’s dedication, caring, and hard work for two consecutive years is terrific news,” said Adam Cotumaccio, President Spence-Chapin. “It is wonderful to be recognized by the Dave Thomas Foundation and our peers.”

Since 2007, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has compiled an annual list of the top adoption-friendly workplaces. This year, for the first time, the Foundation is recognizing all companies that applied. A new Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces website (adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org) will help employers and job seekers compare how companies stack up.

Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces are determined by an analysis of financial assistance and paid leave for families who adopt, based on surveys completed by employers. Break-out lists are available noting America’s top 100 adoption-friendly employers, the top 10 by size, and the leaders in each industry. 

“We’re committed to dramatically increasing the number of adoptions from foster care, and commend all employers who support families – especially those that grow their families through adoption,” said Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the Foundation. “We are so grateful to every company that has adoption-friendly benefits in place, and we’re honored to recognize them as an Adoption-Friendly Workplace.”

Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces recognizes organizations of every size and industry that offer adoption benefits. Employers who applied for the program offer an average of $8,000 and five weeks of paid leave. Financial reimbursement varies from $0 to $25,000, and paid leave varies from one to 18 weeks. Unpaid leave for adoption, beyond what is required by the Family and Medical Leave Act, ranges from one week to three years. 

More than 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system are waiting to be adopted. Every year, more than 23,000 children in foster care age out of the system without families. Companies and their employees interested in learning how to create or enhance an Adoption-Friendly Workplace can order the Foundation’s free kit at: adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org. 

About Spence-Chapin:
Spence-Chapin is a licensed and accredited nonprofit organization providing adoption and permanency-related services as well as mental and emotional health programs. We work with everyone seeking our help and support children in need of a family through adoption and foster care, biological parents wanting support to explore permanency options for their children, adoptive parents looking to start or complete their families through adoption and family and health institutions in need of case support. 

We have an experienced team of licensed clinical workers, mental health counselors, and support staff from diverse backgrounds. We count on the philanthropic support of our community of friends and families to sustain and grow programs and operations. To learn more, visit www.spence-chapin.org. 

About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption:
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 130,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grant making. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.

Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children

Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children

SPENCE-CHAPIN IS AN ACCREDITED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN OFFERING QUALITY ADOPTION SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. Our mission is to help find loving families for children whatever their needs or circumstances, and provide counseling and support for all children and the families to whom they have been born or entrusted. Our mission is driven by the simple belief that every child deserves a family.

Spence-Chapin focuses on finding adoptive homes for children who need families; promoting the understanding of adoption through counseling and public education; and improving adoption's image and practice. Through our Modern Family Center we are helping each family member navigate their individual adoption stories with clarity and confidence. Spence-Chapin's roots can be traced to the early 1900s and the pioneering work of Clara Spence, and Dr. and Mrs. Henry Chapin, who independently established nurseries out of concern for homeless infants abandoned in hospitals and shelters.

Today, Spence-Chapin is proud of our role as a prominent voice and leading advocate for adoption, and of our commitment to the wellbeing of all members of the adoption triad: birth parents, adoptive parents, and their children.

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