About

"What We Do"

We work with members of congress, policy makers, partner organizations, and agencies to encourage sound policies that are in the best interest of our nations waiting foster children.

  • Voice for Adoption (VFA) advocates for the safety and well-being of children in foster care. 

  • VFA holds briefings on foster and adoption issues on Capitol Hill. 

  • VFA works on special projects focused on raising awareness around the needs of foster and adoptive youth, and the families that adopt them. 

  • VFA strives to ensure the foster care and adoption issues remain at the forefront our policy maker's attention.

Mission 

Voice for Adoption (VFA) develops and advocates for improved adoption policies. Recognized as a national leader in special needs adoption, VFA works closely with federal and state legislators, as well as other child welfare organizations, to make a difference in the lives of the 118,000 children in foster care who are waiting to be adopted and the families who adopt children from foster care.

History 

Voice for Adoption, was established in 1996 to provide a permanent mechanism to shape the public debate regarding:

  • the needs of children who are growing up with out families of their own;
  • the lifelong consequences on the development of these children and their later functioning as adults when they continue to be forgotten;
  • the positive potential of adoption to meet the needs of these children; and
  • the benefits to the community of providing ongoing support for families who adopt the children

VFA is to be a bi-partisan force, which shapes the future by providing accurate information on adoption issues, encouraging prompt adoption of waiting children, and supporting sound public policy in adoption.

Meet the Director

Schylar Baber, Executive Director.

Voice for Adoption - Schylar Baber, Executive DirectorSchylar joined Voice for Adoption in May of 2016. Schylar has dedicated his professional and volunteer life to the belief that children and youth in the child welfare system need respect, support, and family. He has served as president of the board of Montana Court Appointed Special Advocates and is currently on the board of the ChildWise Institute, FosterClub, and the Protect Montana’s Kids Commission. From 2005 to 2009, Schylar was a leader at FosterClub, where he served as a program coordinator and held two All Star internships. All Stars are young people who have been in foster care who become leaders and advocates on behalf of children and youth in care. Most recently, he served as outreach manager for the Student Assistance Foundation.

Schylar’s commitment to improving the futures of children and youth in care is due, in large part, to his own life experiences. He spent 12 years in foster care before aging out without a family. When he was 25, his mentor and sixth-grade teacher adopted him. Schylar explained, “I always longed for a place to call my own and, at one point, was told that I was too old to be adopted. I knew when I grew up I wanted to dedicate myself to creating change for youth in foster care.” Schylar believes that serving, as the executive director of Voice for Adoption will allow him to continue his life’s goal of serving vulnerable—but resilient—young people. “I am excited to be part of ensuring that my foster brothers and sisters currently in the system find their own paths to permanence. I believe every child needs the benefit of a permanent and loving place to call home.”