Our Mission
Adoption Resources of Wisconsin is a nonprofit
organization that operates from the belief that all children,
regardless of their needs, have the right to a permanent family. Since
1982, our mission has been to find permanence for every child in
Wisconsin and to support, nurture and encourage healthy families. To
carry out this mission, Adoption Resources operates an extensive
clearinghouse of adoption information and support. We also work
directly with agencies and families to help secure homes for children.
Our Vision
Adoption Resources of Wisconsin BELIEVES
that every child deserves permanence and stability; that adoption is a
lifelong journey; and that adoptive and foster families deserve the
support, nurturing and encouragement they need to be strong healthy
families.
We EXIST to provide exemplary
services before, during and after placement to birthparents, children
waiting for adoptive homes or those aging out of foster care, adoptive
and foster families, their children and the professionals who serve
them. Those services include recruitment, placement support, education,
training and advocacy from a quarter century of tradition and strong
achievements.
We SUPPORT foster and adoptive
families with programs to embrace adoption and foster care more fully
at all stages. We monitor statewide and national trends in adoption,
foster and other non-parental care. We create and implement new
services in response to emerging needs.
We RESPOND to our constituents with timely, factual, objective information that enables them to make informed decisions.
We are DEDICATED to the
delivery of the highest quality services, using a collaborative team
approach that respects the dignity of each individual, family and
organization, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, age, marital status, sexual/affectional preference or gender identification/orientation.
We ADVOCATE that to represent
children’s voices in legislative, rule-making, policy-making and
political arenas and that to support and fund families adequately to be
successful.
We STRIVE to bring those voices to discussions throughout Wisconsin and the country on effective and accessible programs and services.
We SUCCEED by providing premier
services, successful outcomes, financial integrity, personal and
organizational growth for greater community impact and well being.
Adoption Resources of Wisconsin’s goal is continuous quality and growth
of capacity to support children and families.
Why We’re Here
ARW has facilitated more than 1,500 adoptions of
children from the foster care system in its nearly 25-year history.
Because these children are no longer in “the system,” Wisconsin
taxpayers have saved more than $88 million. This number is based on a
very conservative estimate of $5,000 savings each year in court and
administrative costs for each child who is adopted – many states
estimate the costs closer to $20,000 per year per child.
Today in Wisconsin, there are more than 6,500 children in Wisconsin in foster care.
Children leave the foster care system in one of four ways:
They return to the care of their parents;
They are placed with a family through guardianship, often with relatives;
They are adopted;
Or they “age out” of the system when they turn 18.
Children who leave the foster care system without ever finding a permanent family – 8% annually – face many struggles. Within 18 months of leaving the system:
37% had not finished high school;
50% are unemployed;
27% of young men and 10% of young women were incarcerated.*
More than half of the 22,000+ prisoners in the Wisconsin correctional system have spent
time in foster care – at a cost of $50,000 per year per inmate.+
*Source: Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago, Multi State Foster Care Data Archive
+Source: U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Jail Statistics
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board President:Bruce Miller, President, National
Insurance Services
Board Vice
President: Joseph Rock, Senior Partner,
KPMG LLP
Board Secretary: Patricia
Geenen,
Alverno College
Board Treasurer: Cyd
Walters,
President, Cyd Walters Accounting
Board Members: Lawrence
Burnett,
Attorney/Partner, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren Steve Cottingham, Marquette University Ross Draggert, Community Activist Scott
Fabry,
Attorney/Partner, Godfrey & Kahn SC
Deborah
Fagan,
Senior University Relations Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Mike
Giunta,
Director of Product Development, Celera Systems Jeff
Hart,
Vice President of Sales, CPC Logistics Dick
Larsen,
Community Activist Thomas
W. Lacy,
Managing Director, Robert W. Baird & Company David
Cu Norman,
Community Activist
Juan Ramirez, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP Christine
Reichardt,
Benefits & Communication Specialist, Journal Communications Carl
Templer,
President, Templer Communications & Consulting Steve
Volz,
CPA/Partner, Reilly, Penner & Benton Joseph
Wall,
Assistant U. S. Attorney, U.S. Dept. of Justice
