Episode 154 - An interview with Rita Sorenen from the Dave Thomas Foundation

Lots to catch up on this week with surveys, news and more. We go for a high energy opening and we'll see how that pans out.

Here's links to the surveys we discussed:

Adoption Support Agencies: proposed regulation changes here

Regulating supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 & 17 here

We were contacted by Rita from the Dave Thomas Foundation based in the US in relation to the work that they do to promote and facilitate the adoption of older children from the public care system in the US. We thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to look into a system that we rarely discuss but has a profound hold across adoption culture. (Starting 29 mins) Rita was incredibly articulate and clearly has a depth knowledge of the US system and the unique challenges that they face. We chat about the specific issues of adopting older children, Wendy's Wonderful Kids program and the processes that are built around that, we also discuss the broader system and some of the specific issues that impact on the US adoption culture. Scott was a little cheeky and asked his favourite question! 

As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at [email protected]

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