15,000 Adoptions for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, with Rita Soronen Artwork

The Imprint Weekly

The Imprint Weekly Podcast offers listeners a regular review of news and trends in America's child welfare and juvenile justice systems, along with other critical services for youth and families. Join Imprint Senior Editor John Kelly for a discussion of the week's major headlines, plus interviews with leaders in the field.

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15,000 Adoptions for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, with Rita Soronen

March 16, 2025 • The Imprint • Episode 197

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids is a program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption that for decades has focused on finding permanency for older youth in foster care, as well as children with special needs. The program, which received a $200 million commitment to expand in 2017, recently recorded its 15,000th adoption.

Dave Thomas CEO Rita Soronen joins to discuss the experience of scaling up Wendy’s Wonderful Kids and the lessons she learned along the way about how to get initial buy-in on an idea, and then keep support for it going.

Rita Soronen has been the president and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption since 2001. Prior to joining the foundation, Ms. Soronen served as the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Franklin County.

Thanks to SpeakWrite for serving as lead sponsor of this episode!

Reading Room

10,000 Adoptions Later: Wendy’s Wonderful Kids

https://imprintnews.org/podcast/10000-adoptions-later

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids: The Biggest Game in Adoption Today

https://imprintnews.org/adoption/wendys-wonderful-kids-biggest-game-adoption-today/30696

Nonprofits Are Simultaneously Contemplating Strategy on Two Fronts

https://imprintnews.org/adoption/nonprofits-are-simultaneously-contemplating-impact-on-two-fronts/41366