The positive impact of adoption-friendly workplace policies for nonprofits, with insights from Mary Ellen Smalley, Director of Brand and Cause Awareness at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. This fast-paced learning episode explores the Foundation’s Top 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace list for 2024, showcasing organizations leading the charge in supporting adoptive and foster parents through robust benefits and inclusive environments. You’ll hear about resources and guidance for implementing adoption-friendly policies tailored to your nonprofit organization’s size and structure, ensuring inclusivity and support for employees considering adoption. Mary Ellen and the cohosts offer heartwarming stories illustrating the profound impact of these adoption and fostercare policies on families and children.

More and more nonprofits are creating foster care and adoption policies for their staff. As Mary Ellen states, “We’re just seeing the trends going up, and we see more and more companies participating…it’s all good.”

Mary Ellen’s insights detail the significance of adoption-friendly policies, explaining their role in creating inclusive environments for employees considering adoption. She outlines the diverse range of benefits offered by both for profit and non-profit organizations, ranging from financial reimbursement to generous paid leave policies, tailored to support various adoption paths, including foster care adoption.

Mary Ellen lifts the veil on the Dave Thomas Foundation’s Top 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace list for 2024. This list not only recognizes companies for their exemplary adoption policies but also serves as a benchmarking tool for organizations aspiring to enhance their support for adoptive parents.

Through Mary Ellen’s detailed explanation, you will learn how implementing adoption-friendly policies can vary in complexity depending on the size and structure of the organization. The Foundation has links to resources and guidance, such as toolkits and surveys, to assist organizations at every stage of policy development.