Guest Blog: An Adoption Recruiter's Calling

Jill Ortiz is a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter who works every day to find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care.

Thirty seven years ago my family adopted my brother, Peter, from Korea and then several years later adopted my brother, Toby, through the foster care system. I can’t imagine life without my brothers and through this blessing of adoption I have two wonderful nieces and two more on the way. I have always wanted a profession where I could work with children. I feel fortunate to have this position as a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter which enables me to help children find their forever families and assist families in the process of adopting such awesome kids! While I find the work very fulfilling, it has its challenges. Sometimes, I have to convince the kids I work with (especially the teens) that they deserve a family who can love them and keep them safe; who will be committed to them through all the ups and downs. Many of the teens who are close to turning 18 feel that no one will want to adopt them and what’s the point, they will be an adult soon. Heart. Breaking…read the full blog here.

The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program is the signature child-focused recruitment model of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 130,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence- based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.