Carol Biddle, President and CEO of Kinship Center®, nominated by Congressman Sam Farr (CA-17) for a 2005 Angels in Adoption Award, is a graduate of University of Georgia, School of Social Work and a founding executive of this respected 25-year California agency.
Kinship Center was an early proponent of open adoptions and led the field with postgraduate education and practice of openness. Taking cues from parents, the agency developed integrated post-permanency services, beginning in 1984. Today, families in California take advantage of Kinship Center’s adoption and relative caregiver programs, permanency specialty mental health clinics and wraparound services, and an Education Institute that develops psychoeducational training to support permanency. More than 1800 children and their families are served by the agency each year. Kinship Center and its staff regularly receive awards for excellence in practice models and outcomes.
Postgraduate education for social workers and other clinicians is a specialty of the Education Institute of Kinship Center. More than 7000 professionals in several states have completed ACT, the organization’s eight-day permanency clinical training curriculum. Currently, the agency also trains residential treatment center personnel across the country in response to interest in better understanding the large percentage of adoptees enrolled in therapeutic and school programs.
Carol is passionate about permanency practice competence and has dedicated significant resources to continuously refining and disseminating expert training that improves pre- and post-permanency services to families. Many of Kinship Center’s staff are certified as trainers for parents and professionals and are in demand nationwide.
As Carol approaches retirement, her commitment has never been stronger to permanency advocacy and access to expert training for child welfare and children’s mental health professionals. And, she works to ensure that families have quality continuing education and therapeutic care to assist their successful parenting of children with significant prior trauma, multiple moves, and developmental challenges. Visit Kinship Center: www.kinshipcenter.org
“Out of the many awards I’ve received, the one that means the most to me is the Angel in Adoption award. This award is truly a highlight of my continued effort and hard work to move foster children to adoption in permanent homes. Thank you, CCAI.”
-Judge Peter Sakai, 225th District Court, Bexar County, San Antonio, TX
“Since receiving the award we have expanded twice to represent even more children. We often look back on the award and remember how important it was to our morale as a young office just starting out and doing things a bit differently than everyone else. One of the highlights of the award ceremony was actually the day after when we got to meet with Representative Wexler in his office. It was a rare opportunity to discuss children’s issues one on one with a member of Congress. Both Representative Wexler and the CCAI encouraged us to keep on fighting as hard as we can for permanent homes for foster children. We continue to strive to deserve the award the CCAI bestowed on us every time we go to court on behalf of an abused child.” -The Foster Children’s Project, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, FL
Each year, CCAI sponsors Angels in Adoption™, our signature public awareness program, which provides a unique opportunity for Members of Congress to honor an individual or entity that has made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children in need of homes.These heroes hail from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and represent the wide spectrum of individuals involved in the adoption and foster care process. Because of this program, over 1600 “Angels” have come to Washington in celebration of adoption and left with a renewed excitement of all that adoption makes possible.
In addition, CCAI recognizes the work of a select number of “National Angels in Adoption.” As the name implies, a “National Angel” is someone whose impact on foster care or adoption is nation or worldwide. Previous National Angels in Adoption™ winners include: Muhammad Ali, First Lady Laura Bush, Patti LaBelle, Jane Seymour, Dave Thomas of Wendy’s, Antwone Fisher, Alonzo Mourning, and Bruce Willis.
2009 Angels in Adoption™ Report
CCAI welcomed the 2009 Angels in Adoption™ from across the country to Washington this September. The Angels in Adoption™ award is bestowed upon individuals or entities by their Member of Congress for their work on behalf of a child in need of a permanent, loving home. The 2009 Angels in Adoption™ Program is three days of events centered on celebrating the work of the Angels and also training these advocates to continue to affect change on behalf of children in need of homes. This year’s program expanded two-fold from previous years, adding the Adoption and Foster Care Advocacy Fair, Tours of the U.S. Capitol and Washington, DC, an Ice Cream Social, and a Welcome Reception at the Department of State to the schedule. Secretary Hillary Clinton hosted the Angels in Adoption™ at the State Department for a Welcome Reception with Senator Mary Landrieu and Congressman Jim McDermott.
In her address, the Secretary celebrated the Angels’ achievements on behalf of children in need of permanent, loving families. In addition, the Secretary discussed the great need for more to be done in the United States and around the world for these children. “We need you Angels more than ever… We need you to work with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute… We need you to help advise us on how to avoid the pitfalls that sometimes come from laws that are written but are not working in reality.” The Secretary continued, “We need your help in raising awareness about the kids in foster care and orphans in your own community. We need mentors and advocates in your own communities who will defend the rights of vulnerable children in court and of course we need more Americans and people around the world to provide the greatest gift of all by opening their hearts and homes.” A highlight of the Angels program included the Legislative Seminar and Hill Day, where the Angels had an opportunity to share their stories and concerns with Members of Congress and their staff. The sessions commenced with a panel of Congressional Staff representing the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, the Senate Foreign Relations and Finance Committees, and the Congressional Research Service. Angels were instructed on existing child welfare legislation as well as initiatives that Congress is currently considering. Following the Legislative Seminar, the Angels were divided into ten groups and embarked on their Congressional meetings. The three-days of events culminated in the Angels in Adoption™ Gala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Angels and their guests were joined by Members of Congress and the Administration, as well as members of the community to celebrate all that adoption makes possible. National Angels in Adoption™ Michael Nash, Al Roker, and Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy were presented their awards by Congressman Jim McDermott, Congressman John Boozman, and Senator Mary Landrieu. The evening was an exciting tribute to all that Angels in Adoption™ are doing to better the lives of vulnerable children, and many left inspired to further their commitment to the needs of children around the world.
