Ohio Tops 2,000 Foster Adoptions for Older Youth
Ohio families considering adoption can learn how trained recruiters are finding permanent homes for children waiting the longest.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Special Needs
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Ohio has reached 2,000 foster care adoptions through the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, according to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The program places children who have long been without a family using trained professional recruiters across the state.
Why it matters
For Ohio families weighing foster care adoption, the milestone shows that older children and those with special needs can find permanent homes through structured recruitment support. Misconceptions and myths remain barriers for couples considering the path, so accurate information matters for households deciding whether to open their home.
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption reported that more than 2,000 Ohio children in foster care now have permanent homes. More than 80 adoption recruiters work across Ohio, and the youth they serve average 14 years old after nearly three years in foster care.
The players
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
A nonprofit that promotes adoption and runs the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, which reported Ohio's 2,000-adoption milestone.
Wendy's Wonderful Kids
A recruitment program that uses trained professional recruiters to find permanent families for children waiting in foster care.
The details
Wendy's Wonderful Kids uses trained professional recruiters who focus on children who have not yet been placed with a family. These children are often older, have special needs, or may be reluctant toward adoption because they have little reason to trust a new family. Ohio began expanding the program in 2012, building the recruiter network that now serves older youth statewide.
Timeline
2012: Ohio began expanding the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program.
November 2026: National Adoption Month is observed.
The Home Front
The Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, operated by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, has been expanded in Ohio since 2012 with dedicated recruiters for older youth. The source notes that nationwide foster care numbers are declining while child welfare agencies increasingly prioritize kinship placements with relatives.
If your household is considering foster care adoption, contact a licensed child welfare agency in Ohio to learn about available children and the support offered to families. Gather basic household and eligibility documents early, since the approval process takes time.
The takeaway
Ohio's 2,000-adoption milestone shows that children who have waited longest for families, including teens with special needs, can be placed through trained recruitment. Families curious about adoption can start by asking their local Ohio agency about the children currently waiting and the training required.
Further reading
For more on the families and children involved, see our Special Needs coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wcsmradio.
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