The 25th Angels in Adoption® Program Recap

CCAI recently celebrated the 25th year of its Angels in Adoption® Leadership Program, a nationally renowned public awareness program celebrating adoption, foster care, and those who have made an extraordinary impact on behalf of children in need of safe and nurturing families. This year, nearly 50 Angels from 30 states, as well as three National Angels, were honored through the 25th Annual Angels in Adoption® Program. Our Angels are adoptees, former foster youth, foster parents, adoptive parents, judges, social workers, scholars, lawyers, volunteers, nonprofit leaders, and fierce advocates – all champions in their communities across the United States. CCAI is honored to help give a platform to these champions on Capitol Hill. You can read their biographies here.

“CCAI is proud to work alongside the Adoption Caucus over the past 25 years on the annual Angels in Adoption® Program to recognize the extraordinary work and impact of our Angel honorees towards a world in which every child knows the love and support of a permanent family,” states CCAI’s Executive Director, Kate McLean.
In this milestone year, we have taken time to reflect on the founding of CCAI and our signature programs, as well as our ability to have significant impact on Capitol Hill and on countless individuals throughout the world. To recognize three of CCAI’s earliest champions, we were proud to honor Kerry Marks Hasenbalg, Kathleen Strottman, and the Honorable Mary Landrieu as “CCAI Visionaries” as 2023 National Angels in Adoption®. This well-deserved recognition is a testament to their deep dedication, pioneering spirit, and heartfelt commitment to the cause of ensuring every child knows the love and support of a permanent family.
Day One of the 2023 Angels in Adoption® Leadership Program includes an advocacy fair where Angels hear from representatives from national adoption and foster care advocacy organizations, a “Using Your Voice to Break Down Barriers to Permanency” panel in which Angels hear from child welfare experts on adoption and foster care policy barriers as well as national models that are working to address them, and a roundtable discussion where Angels have the opportunity to meet other honorees and learn more about their shared experiences and passions.
Former Senator Mary Landrieu meets Angel honorees Rhyan and Peter Desmaret of Minnesota during the Day One Advocacy Fair.
CCAI Executive Director, Kate McLean, kicks off the 2023 Hill Day alongside former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) (not pictured), giving the Angel honorees words of encouragement and advice ahead of their meetings with their Congressional Members. 47 Members of Congress participated in this year’s Angels in Adoption® Program.
Angel Honoree, Keith Lowhorne, and his family meets their recommending Member of Congress, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), during their busy day of Hill meetings.
CCAI honors both individuals and organizations who are making extraordinary contributions to adoption, permanency, and child welfare through the Angels in Adoption® Program. Pictured above is Methodist Children’s Home Society’s CEO, Kevin Roach, with recommending Member of Congress, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), at the Angels in Adoption® Celebration.
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Co-Chairs Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) give remarks at the 25th Annual Angels in Adoption® Celebration on how they prioritize bipartisan efforts as they work towards achieving permanency for all children.
The Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood (R-IL) speaks about the importance of adoption and congressional efforts in the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Caucus member, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), speaks about the importance of preventing sibling separation for children in foster care.
2023 Angel Honoree and country music songwriter, J.T. Harding, performs his song “Smile” at the Angels in Adoption® Celebration.
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute staff celebrates a successful Angels in Adoption® Program.
Rhode Island Angels in Adoption® honorees, The Heart Tree – Hispanic Foster and Adoptive Parents Organization of Rhode Island, gather at the Celebration after being recommended by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) in recognition of their community impact of promoting child and family welfare in the state.

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The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the millions of children around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right of a family.

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