SPRING 2021

THE DAVE THOMAS

FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION
GEA - 1 SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT PREFLECTION

MELISSA SMITH

FEBRUARY 07, 2021

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

GEB 4890 - STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING

SERVICE LEARNING & SOCIAL RESPONSBILITY.
To me, “service learning” means learning about something, in this case a
nonprofit organization, through service. I think that service learning
allows students to better connect to the organization and the industry or
people that they serve.

Social responsibility essentially means that I have a responsibility, or

duty, to act in a way that benefits society. This can be done by donating
your time through volunteer work, or donating money in the form of a
check.

There are over 500,000 children in the

THE ORGANIZATION.
foster care system currently, with about
1,500 children located in Central Florida
alone. These children tend to spend
about 2 years in the system on average,
with 5% of children spending 5 or more
years in the system.

The organization that I chose to do my project on is the Dave Thomas

Foundation for Adoption. I selected this organization because they are the
“only public nonprofit charity in the United States that is focused
exclusively on foster care adoption.” The Dave Thomas Foundation for
Adoption believes that “no child should linger in foster care or leave the
system without a permanent family.” The foundation works to find
children a safe and loving family through social media campaigns,
sponsored events, articles and much more. The Dave Thomas Foundation
for Adoption primarily serves children 0 to 21 years of age, with the
exception of special needs children and adults that may require constant
care and supervision. The foundation works to find “forever families” for
children before they age out of the system at age 18, or at age 21,
depending on the state that the children reside in. The foundation has
multiple locations throughout North America, with a few locations in
Florida including the Children's Home Society of Florida and One Hope
United (Florida Region).

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POTENTIAL FOR ASSISTANCE.
While the foundation’s primary goal is to find children their forever family
before they age out of the system, it is possible that a few may be missed.
In fact, about 20,000 to 24,000 children do age out of the system.
Unfortunately, these children that age out of the system may face:
Homelessness,
Unemployment, and
Criminal Conviction.

The Dave Thomas Foundation might be able to assist the young adults
that age out of the system. The foundation may offer programs (or
classes) that help young adults secure a job. The foundation may offer
housing or apartments at cheaper rates, similar to Habitat for Humanity’s
housing program for less fortunate families.

MISSION
Dramatically increase the number
of adoptions of children waiting in
North America's foster care
systems.
VISION
Every child will have a
permanent home and loving
family.
PROJECT
EXPECTATIONS.
I expect that I will learn more
about the Dave Thomas
Foundation for Adoption, along
with the foster care system. I hope
to learn about some of the other
programs that the foundation has,
like the “Wendy’s Wonderful Kids”
program and “A Home for the
Holidays” program. I am interested
in reading some of the many
adoption stories that talk about
how the foundation has found
forever families for children in the
system, and how those children
and families are doing today.

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SOURCES.
https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

https://foundationforfosterchildren.org/who-we-are/mission-
stats/#:~:text=Nationwide%2C%20there%20are%20about%20500%2C000,a
nd%20communities%20with%20appalling%20frequency.

https://www.childrensrights.org/newsroom/fact-sheets/foster-
care/#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20children%20remain%20in,kids%20e
ntering%20care%20is%208.

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