The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the 2022 recipients of the annual Adoption Excellence Awards today. This year’s awardees were honored at an event in the Hubert H. Humphrey Building’s Great Hall , featuring HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm, ACF Assistant Secretary January Contreras, and ACF Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau Aysha E. Schomburg.
“The journey to a permanent family may not be easy or simple, but we are witnesses today to the people and organizations that will stand in the gap for children and families,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. “Because of the work, commitment, and dedication of our partners across the country, more than 54,000 children were adopted from foster care in 2021.”
Each November, in celebration of National Adoption Month, the Children’s Bureau at ACF recognizes individuals, families and organizations who have demonstrated excellence in making contributions to providing permanency for children in foster care through these awards. This year's National Adoption Month theme is “Small Steps Open Doors”. Taking the time to talk with and listen to youth can help earn their trust and help the youth become more engaged in their own permanency planning. It can also create an environment where youth can be honest and ask questions.
“We applaud those who work day in and day out toward our shared goal of every child having a loving and permanent home,” said ACF Assistant Secretary January Contreras. “We will continue to support families, biological and adoptive parents and kin, so that children have the sense of belonging they deserve. We rejoice with the children and families who have found their forever homes.”
The awardees include families who have adopted children from foster care, child welfare professionals working to improve permanency outcomes for children, as well as individuals and organizations that use their resources to strengthen outcomes for children and youth adopted from foster care.
“Adoptive families can be critical to a child’s sense of love, security and belonging,” said Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg. “Many of our children in care dream of having a permanent, loving family and today we honor those who have worked diligently to make their dreams a reality.”
2022 Adoption Excellence Awardees
Family Contributions
- Jessie Howell, Pensacola, Fla.
Individuals/Professionals
- Mary Boo, St. Paul, Minn.
- Tawanna Brown, South Orange, N.J.
- Deborah Burrus-Germany, Atlanta, Ga.
- Lisa Funaro, Easton, Mass.
- Alec Ingold, Miami, Fla.
- Virginia “Ginny” Kenny, Trenton, N.J.
Business Contributions/Initiatives
- Eliot Tatelman and Heather Copelas of Jordan Furniture, East Taunton, Mass.
Media/Public Awareness of Adoption from Foster Care
- Together We Rise Corporation, Brea, Calif.
Child Welfare/Judicial Systemic Change
- Mississippi Child Protection Services Adoption Unit, Jackson, Miss.
View the complete profile of each awardee. For more information and resources to help youth explore permanency, please go to the 2022 National Adoption Month website.
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Quotes
“The journey to a permanent family may not be easy or simple, but we are witnesses today to the people and organizations that will stand in the gap for children and families.”— Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
“Because of the work, commitment, and dedication of our partners across the country, more than 54,000 children were adopted from foster care in 2021.”— Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
“We applaud those who work day in and day out toward our shared goal of every child having a loving and permanent home.”— January Contreras, Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families
“We will continue to support families, biological and adoptive parents and kin, so that children have the sense of belonging they deserve. We rejoice with the children and families who have found their forever homes.”— January Contreras, Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families
“Adoptive families can be critical to a child’s sense of love, security and belonging.”— Aysha E. Schomburg, Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families
“Many of our children in care dream of having a permanent, loving family and today we honor those who have worked diligently to make their dreams a reality.”— Aysha E. Schomburg, Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Contact
Administration for Children & Families
Office of Communications
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: (202) 401-9215
Fax: (202) 205-9688
Email: media@acf.hhs.gov