The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with the Dave Thomas Foundation to move kids from foster care into permanent homes. Dave Thomas was the founder of the Wendy’s fast food chain and an advocate for adoption.
The program provides the funding for recruiters who find homes for youth at highest risk of aging out of foster care, including teenagers, children with special needs and siblings. JooYeun Chang, executive director of the Children’s Services Agency within MDHHS said, “Wendy’s Wonderful Kids has demonstrated success at finding families for children who have waited in foster care the longest, and we are thankful for the opportunity to expand this program in Michigan.”
The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program has a success rate for placement that is three times higher than average. According to MDHHs, there are 13,000 children currently placed in foster care with 300 kids needing to be adopted. More information about fostering and adopting can be found at Michigan.gov. More about the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program can be found at davethomasfoundation.org.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
