PROGRAMS.CCAI has five core programs: Foster Youth Internship Program®, Angels in Adoption®, Congressional Resource Program, 20/20 Vision Program, and National Adoption Day.
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FOSTER YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM®
CCAI's Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program® is a highly esteemed congressional internship for young adults who spent time in the foster care system. The FYI Program began in 2003 as an effort to raise awareness to federal policymakers about the needs and unique perspectives of children and youth in foster care. During the program, CCAI organizes retreats, advocacy trainings and various networking opportunities with experts in the child welfare field for our Foster Youth Interns. While participating in a congressional office summer internship, the FYI Program interns spend time researching policy issues affecting children and youth in the U.S. foster care system. These experiences allow the interns to create a policy report that is presented to Members of Congress and their staff and released to child welfare advocates across the country. There are 215 exceptional alumni of the Foster Youth Internship Program® to date.
Read the 2020 Foster Youth Internship Program Report, Seeing Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Creating Change for Vulnerable Children and Families.
NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program was moved to a virtual platform during summer 2020 and all selected 2020 Foster Youth Interns were given the option to participate in both the virtual 2020 program as well as the summer 2021 program in DC. Because of this unique circumstance, at this time CCAI will not be opening applications until next fall in 2021 for the summer 2022 FYI Program.
Read the 2020 Foster Youth Internship Program Report, Seeing Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Creating Change for Vulnerable Children and Families.
NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program was moved to a virtual platform during summer 2020 and all selected 2020 Foster Youth Interns were given the option to participate in both the virtual 2020 program as well as the summer 2021 program in DC. Because of this unique circumstance, at this time CCAI will not be opening applications until next fall in 2021 for the summer 2022 FYI Program.
ANGELS IN ADOPTION®
CCAI’s Angels in Adoption® Program honors a wide spectrum of individuals and organizations making extraordinary contributions to adoption, permanency, and child welfare. Each year, the Angels in Adoption® honorees travel to Washington, D.C. to both celebrate their hard work and dedication to the issues and participate in special events designed to engage them in using their personal experience to effect change on behalf of children in need of families. Check out our list of 2020 Angels Honorees!
CCAI also honors a select number of National Angels in Adoption® whose contributions have had a national impact. Past recipients of this award include: Muhammad Ali, First Lady Laura Bush, Kristin Chenoweth, Scott Fujita, Deborra-lee Furness, Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley, Patti LaBelle, Ne-Yo, Rhea Perlman, Shonda Rhimes, Korie and Willie Robertson, Al Roker, Jane Seymour, Sean Anders, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, Bruce Willis, Nia Vardalos, Bill Klein and Jen Arnold, Scott and Tracie Hamilton, Connie Britton, Rachel Crow, CBS Studios, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, NVIDIA, Hallmark Channel, PEOPLE Magazine, Magnolia Earl & Family, Todd Tilghman, Miranda & Luke Caldwell, and "This Is Us."
Check out our list of Angels in Adoption Honoree alumni from 1999 through 2019!
CCAI also honors a select number of National Angels in Adoption® whose contributions have had a national impact. Past recipients of this award include: Muhammad Ali, First Lady Laura Bush, Kristin Chenoweth, Scott Fujita, Deborra-lee Furness, Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley, Patti LaBelle, Ne-Yo, Rhea Perlman, Shonda Rhimes, Korie and Willie Robertson, Al Roker, Jane Seymour, Sean Anders, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, Bruce Willis, Nia Vardalos, Bill Klein and Jen Arnold, Scott and Tracie Hamilton, Connie Britton, Rachel Crow, CBS Studios, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, NVIDIA, Hallmark Channel, PEOPLE Magazine, Magnolia Earl & Family, Todd Tilghman, Miranda & Luke Caldwell, and "This Is Us."
Check out our list of Angels in Adoption Honoree alumni from 1999 through 2019!
CCAI's signature national public awareness campaign, the Angels in Adoption® Program, allows Members of the U.S. Congress to celebrate individuals, couples, families, and organizations that have made a difference in the lives of children in need of a family to call their own. More than 2,800 Angels have been recognized through this inspiring program since 1999.
Historically, each fall, the Angels in Adoption® honorees travel from all across the country to visit the nation's capital, meet Members of Congress, and share their adoption, foster care, and child welfare experiences. CCAI also hosts the annual Angels gala, the largest congressional child welfare event in the country, to celebrate our local Angels in Adoption® honorees as well as celebrity National Angels in Adoption® honorees. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Angels program and gala was fully virtual. CCAI is proud that congressional meetings, policy panels and roundtables, and the gala were hosted on a virtual platform, preserving the heart of the Angels program during an unprecedented time. CCAI continues to closely monitor the ongoing pandemic and is keeping safety and health at the forefront of all programming decisions. More updates to come regarding the 2021 events.
How are Angel honorees chosen? To help identify and create a pool of the top child welfare advocates across the country for the CCAI Angels in Adoption® selection committee to consider, there are two different periods: community recommendations (January - April) and congressional recommendations (May - July). Anyone in the community may submit a community recommendation using the steps outlined below. Only congressional offices are able to submit a congressional recommendation. Community recommendations for 2021 are now closed.
Historically, each fall, the Angels in Adoption® honorees travel from all across the country to visit the nation's capital, meet Members of Congress, and share their adoption, foster care, and child welfare experiences. CCAI also hosts the annual Angels gala, the largest congressional child welfare event in the country, to celebrate our local Angels in Adoption® honorees as well as celebrity National Angels in Adoption® honorees. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Angels program and gala was fully virtual. CCAI is proud that congressional meetings, policy panels and roundtables, and the gala were hosted on a virtual platform, preserving the heart of the Angels program during an unprecedented time. CCAI continues to closely monitor the ongoing pandemic and is keeping safety and health at the forefront of all programming decisions. More updates to come regarding the 2021 events.
How are Angel honorees chosen? To help identify and create a pool of the top child welfare advocates across the country for the CCAI Angels in Adoption® selection committee to consider, there are two different periods: community recommendations (January - April) and congressional recommendations (May - July). Anyone in the community may submit a community recommendation using the steps outlined below. Only congressional offices are able to submit a congressional recommendation. Community recommendations for 2021 are now closed.
CONGRESSIONAL RESOURCE PROGRAM
The Congressional Resource Program is CCAI’s primary means of sharing objective, relevant and timely information to help educate policymakers on information critical to federal adoption and child welfare policy – both domestic and international. In an effort to better serve children in need of families, CCAI’s Congressional Resource Program also provides ideal opportunities for policymakers to communicate directly with individuals with personal experience with adoption and foster care. Click HERE to see if your Members of Congress are part of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption.
20/20 VISION PROGRAM
The CCAI 20/20 Vision Program is a public-private partnership delegation model designed to build relationships and increase positive dialogue among Members of Congress, foreign and domestic government officials, and private sector leaders to share information and improve adoption and child welfare policy and practice around the globe. The 20/20 Vision Program facilitates ongoing communication, education and fact-finding trips between government entities both domestically and internationally. CCAI also hosts foreign leaders and dignitaries from around the globe in the nation’s capital and coordinates meetings with congressional leadership.
NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY
Through CCAI’s National Adoption Day efforts, Members of Congress, governors, mayors, other public officials and even NFL teams are promoting the importance of a loving family across the nation! CCAI’s involvement in the 2015 National Adoption Day led to:
- Over 75 elected officials showed their support of adoption by using social media, writing an op-ed, issuing a press release, or attending a National Adoption Day event.
- 44 Governors issued proclamations commemorating the importance of adoption from foster care.
- 30 Senators and 41 Representatives sponsored or co-sponsored the National Adoption Day Congressional Resolutions. Read the U.S. Senate Resolution and U.S. House of Representatives Resolution.
- CCAI engaged with several former National Angels in Adoption® honorees to promote National Adoption Day including Korie Robertson, A&E’s Duck Dynasty; Nia Vardalos, My Big Fat Greek Wedding; Connie Britton, Nashville and Friday Night Lights; Bill Klein and Dr. Jen Arnold, TLC’s The Little Couple; and singer Rachel Crow.
- The NFL’s New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings promoted National Adoption Day with pregame, on-field celebrations to commemorate the day.