About: Awards & Achievements
Over the past decade the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute has made numerous contributions to the adoption field, including the first national survey on public perceptions of adoption; an award-winning website; influential conferences on ethics in adoption, and the impact of prenatal drug and alcohol exposure; books, journal articles and publications including original research on critical adoption issues. The following are highlights of achievements and recognitions since the Institute's inception.
Adoption Law Reform
Advocating for rigorous international adoption laws.
The Adoption Institute has been active in the development of sound ethical practice in international adoption and submitted testimony on May 2002 before the House International Relations Committee. The Institute is active in formulating legislation, providing testimony and letters at the federal and state level on a variety of issues relating to adoption.
Understanding & Influencing Public Opinion
Educating the public
Public education is essential to end negative stereotypes and misinformation about adoption. The Adoption Institute's landmark 1997 Benchmark Adoption Survey was the first public opinion research on American perceptions of adoption. In 2002, the Adoption Institute, in partnership with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, conducted its second survey on adoption attitudes.
Educating the media
Over the years, the Adoption Institute has become a trusted source for the media. The Adoption Institute has provided accurate information and up-to-the minute research to reporters. For this reason, television, print and radio journalists alike increasingly rely on the Adoption Institute. The Institute is frequently quoted in national and international news outlets and publish commentaries and opinion pieces. In addition, the Institute is active in educating the media in order to replace erroneous stereotypes with accurate information and a deeper understanding about a wide range of adoption-related issues.
Encouraging employers to support adoption by their employees
Most employer health plans cover the costs of childbirth, but assistance for adoption is much less common. To foster corporate support for adoption, the Adoption Institute created forums to encourage companies to add adoption benefits to their employee benefit packages and to educate employees about adoption opportunities. Funded by State Street Bank, four Boston seminars were conducted in 2001-2002. To learn more about this program contact us at info@adoptioninstitute.org
Undertaking Groundbreaking Research
Leading the field in building critical knowledge
The Institute is committed to providing accurate, research-based knowledge to the adoption field that will tangibly improve the daily lives of of everyone touched by adoption, and help children who need permanent, loving families. The Institute accomplishes this by producing original research that will often be used to develop policy recommendations, and education.
Promoting Ethics in Adoption
Ethics initiative
The Adoption Institute published four books on ethics and adoption in 2000: The Role of Race, Culture, and Origin in Adoption; The Market Forces in Adoption; The Impact of Adoption on Members of the Triad; and Adoption and Assisted Reproduction. This work grew out of a multi-year Ethics Initiative, launched in 1998, to improve adoption policy and practice. The first major activity of the Ethics Initiative was an international conference in 1999
Putting Policy into Action
World Trade Center permanency project
In the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the Adoption Institute understood that there were many hundreds of children who had lost parent(s) as primary caregivers. In response, the Adoption Institute designed and coordinated the WTC Permanency Project to help ease transitions into permanent home and support new caregivers for children who had lost their sole parent, and to help stabilize families in situations where one parent of a two parent family had died in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
Recognitions and Honors
Angels in Adoption Award 2004
Senator Hillary Clinton nominated the Institute for a 2004 congressional "Angel in Adoption" award in recognition of the "organization's unique role in improving the lives of the millions of Americans affected by adoption." The Adoption Institute received its award, along with other recipients, in Washington D.C. on Sept. 23, 2004. The national event is sponsored annually by the Congressional Coalition of Adoption Institute, in partnership with the United States Congress.
Website awards
| Forbes Best of the Web: Adoption |  |
| Tufts Child & Family WebGuide: 5 STARS |  |
| Mental Health Network: 3 STARS |  |
| Mommysbiz Choice Site |  |
| Britannica Internet Guide Award |  |
