DCFYI

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) holds the Angels in Adoption® Program every year "to celebrate individuals, couples, families, and organizations from across the nation who have made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children in need of families."

Family & Youth Initiative was selected based on a nomination by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who wrote:

DCFYI is an organization committed to finding lifelong connections for youth in foster care who are at risk of aging out. They know that one stable, loving connection can make all the difference for a youth in care. They find mentors and adoptive homes for youth in DC's foster care system. I've seen their work firsthand and I can't speak highly enough of the work they do. They work with a population that too often is overlooked or considered "unadoptable" (which isn't a thing). They make sure that these phenomenal young men and women have people in their corners who are cheering for them and there for them, and in doing this, they prevent these young people from experiencing some of the worst injustices.

Angels was an incredible two day event - meeting and learning from others from across the country (one family had flown in all the way from Hawaii); talking to members of Congress about adoption, and especially teens and their need for families; a screening of "Instant Family" followed by a panel discussion with director Sean Anders and foster care alumni; and the Angels Gala.

It was both inspiring and a reminder of how few organizations do the work we do and how incredible the need remains all across the US.

(More photos on the DCFYI website.)