National Adoption Awards

14TH ANNUAL VOICE FOR ADOPTION AWARDS

12TH ANNUAL ADOPTIVE FAMILY PORTRAIT PROJECT

Voice for Adoption's (VFA) annual awards focus attention on the crucial need for strong post-adoption support services for adoptive families and overcoming interjurisdictional barriers to adoption of children from foster care.

To nominate someone you believe deserves one of these awards please follow the link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/65H7CKR

 

Breaking Barriers Adoption Award

(Formerly Adoptions Across Boundaries Award, is presented to a state, county, tribal child welfare agency, or dedicated individual that has made diligent efforts in overcoming barriers, which can include age, geographic, and/or special needs, to find permanent families for children waiting to be adopted.

 

 

Breaking Barriers Adoption Award

Presented to

J. Eugene (Gene) Balloun

In recognition of your diligent efforts in overcoming barriers to adoption, which can include age, geographic, and/or speical needs, to find permanent families for children waiting to be adopted.

 

 

Drenda Lakin Memorial Award

(Honors a state, nonprofit organization, or individual whose programs provide valuable adoptive family support after adoptions are finalized.)

 

Drenda Lakin Memorial Award

Presented to

Vermont Department of Children and Families & Lund Family Center

In recognition of your efforts to provide valuable adoptive family support after adoptions are finalized.

 

 

 

These awards are presented at our annual Adoptive Family Portrait Project reception that takes place in November (National Adoption Month).

 

Previous VFA Award Recipients

Breaking Barriers Adoption Award

*Formerly Adoptions Across Boundaries Award, changed 2017.

  • Adoption Advocacy of South Carolina
  • Carla Fults & Anita Light
  • Colorado Department of Human Services
  • Deborah Goodman, Oklahoma Adoption Program Manager
  • Dixie van de Flier Davis 
  • Oregon Department of Human Services  
  • South Dakota Department of Social Services
  • State of Louisiana
  • Utah Division of Child & Family Service
  • Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
  • West Virginia

  • Gail Johnson Vaughan

Drenda Lakin Memorial Award

  • A Better Chance for Our Children in partnership with The State of Delaware's Division of Family Services
  • Adoption Network Cleveland 
  • Adoption Rhode Island
  • Adam Pertman
  • Adoptions Together
  • Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE)
  • Concerned Persons for Adoption
  • Donaldson Adoption Institute 
  • Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, Center for Family Connections
  • Family Focus Adoption Services
  • Lauretta “Pat” Sims, DePelchin Children’s Center
  • Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC) 
  • Pam Wolf, The Harmony Family Center
  • Patricia Bennett
  • State of Missouri's Children's Division in partnership with Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition & Midwest Foster Care Adoption Association
  • Sylvia Franzmeir
  • Statewide Adoption Network of Pennsylvania

       

      We thank the above individuals, organizations and states for their hard work on behalf of waiting children and adoptive families.