Northwestern College named among most adoption-friendly

Northwestern College is making its sixth appearance on the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces education list compiled by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Ranked alongside large research institutions as one of the leading adoption-friendly workplaces in education for 2016, Northwestern placed fifth nationally—behind New York University (first), Emory University and The Ohio State University(tied for second), and the University of Notre Dame (fourth).

“I’m very pleased that Northwestern College is again recognized as an adoption-friendly workplace,” says Deb Sandbulte, Northwestern’s director of human resources. “Adoptive families face unique challenges and a wide range of emotions through their process. Supporting those families financially and during the adjustment process with time-off benefits is a reflection of Northwestern’s support of families no matter how they are built.”

Northwestern offers financial assistance of up to $2,000 per adopted child to faculty and staff, with an additional reimbursement of up to $1,000 for the adoption of a special needs child. The funds can be used for such things as home studies, agency and placement fees, legal expenses and court costs, medical expenses, and transportation and lodging. Adoptive parents are offered up to seven days of paid leave in addition to accumulated sick leave, vacation and personal leave.

Northwestern enacted its adoption benefits policy in 2007 at the request of the Faculty/Staff Welfare Committee. Six employees have benefited from the policy since that time.

Ben Karnish, head women’s soccer coach and assistant athletic facilities coordinator at Northwestern, has recently benefited from the college’s adoption policy. “The support, both emotionally and financially, that Northwestern offered us through the adoption of our daughter was such a blessing. Northwestern continues to support our family, helping celebrate the birth of our son and the beginning of the adoption process again. We feel very loved and are forever grateful.”

Rankings for the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List, posted at www.adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org, are determined by an analysis of a company’s adoption benefits, based on surveys completed by employers, including the maximum amount of financial reimbursement and paid leave for families who adopt.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals earned the top spot with a combination of up to $25,000 in financial assistance and more than five weeks of paid leave. In addition to ranking the top 100, the foundation also recognized the top 10 by size and the leaders of each industry.

More than 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system are waiting to be adopted. The release of the annual Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List helps the Dave Thomas Foundation increase foster care adoption awareness while celebrating those businesses that support adoptive families.