Donaldson Adoption Institute Brings "Let's Adopt Reform" National Town Hall Tour To San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Donaldson Adoption Institute (DAI), a national research, education and advocacy organization based in New York City, announced details for the San Francisco stop on their National Town Hall Tour. The Tour is part of their overall "Let's Adopt Reform" initiative aimed at educating and raising a national dialogue about adoption, foster care adoption and the modern family. 

According to a recent national poll commissioned by DAI and fielded by nonprofit partner Research in Kind™, founded by Mark Truss, Global Head of Brand Intelligence at J. Walter Thompson, Americans are more focused on adoption than ever before.  But, very few are informed about the basics and lack understanding of what changes are needed to ensure strong families.  While less than 4% of Americans are adopted people, 60% have a family member or friend who is adopted or has adopted a child.  A large majority of Americans rank reforming adoption fourth right behind equal pay for women, rescuing pets and anti-bullying efforts, but 61% admit not knowing much about adoption and how it works.  75% of Americans, including those closest to adoption, believe things need to change, but when you give them a quiz on basic adoption facts, the average grade is a C-.

In response, DAI has launched "Let's Adopt Reform," a new initiative that aims to ignite a national conversation about adoption in the 21^st Century in order to encourage needed changes and strengthen families.  Key elements include public opinion research, a national Town Hall Tour with the current stop in San Francisco, an online gallery where members of the adoption community can add their voices to the conversation by sharing their life changing experiences and a landmark report that will combine DAI's decades of academic research with modern public opinion research and first-hand experiences to define the core perception, policy and behavioral shifts that are needed to put strong families at the center of adoption and foster care adoption practices.

In San Francisco, before a live and virtual audience, experts and community members will explore DAI's new public opinion research and discuss the topics that matter most today: access to original birth certificates, uniform options counseling, pre- and post-adoption services, openness in adoption, eliminating discrimination, how money and privilege impact adoption and foster care and much more.

"It's been so encouraging to see that Americans recognize the importance of having a new conversation about adoption, foster care and family," said April Dinwoodie, Chief Executive of DAI. "We are so excited to bring the Let's Adopt Reform Town Hall to Northern California and hear from so many of the passionate advocates and community members as we create our blueprint for needed changes in adoption and foster care adoption policies and practices."

About The Donaldson Adoption Institute

Since 1996, The Donaldson Adoption Institute (DAI) has worked to improve the lives of children and families across our country and around the world through research, education and advocacy that has led to better laws, policies and practices. We engage all members of the adoption and foster care adoption communities, including the professionals that serve them.  In our twentieth year, DAI is committed to reframing the conversations and changing perceptions, inspiring solidarity and advocating for change to ensure the strength of all families.

www.adoptioninstitute.org
www.letsadoptreform.org
Twitter: @adoptioninstitute
Facebook: Donaldson Adoption Institute

CONTACT:

April Dinwoodie (212) 925-4089 [email protected]

SOURCE The Donaldson Adoption Institute

Related Links

http://www.adoptioninstitute.org