Washington, DC November 21, 2024 –The DuRard family of Franklin has been nationally recognized with the 2024 Adoption Excellence Award by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In addition to this prestigious honor, the family played a key role in a newly launched national public service announcement (PSA) campaign aimed at inspiring others to adopt teens from foster care.
The DuRards were honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., during National Adoption Month, an event hosted by the Children’s Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The Adoption Excellence Awards celebrate families, professionals, and organizations making extraordinary efforts to ensure permanency for children in foster care.
“It is a privilege to present today’s honorees with the 2024 Adoption Excellence Award. Every child deserves a stable and loving home, and today’s awardees have worked tirelessly to make that happen,” said ACF Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Meg Sullivan.
As part of their ongoing advocacy, the DuRard family was featured in “The Rewards”, a powerful PSA created by Edelman and produced by Greenpoint Pictures. The campaign, marking its 20th year, celebrates the mutual benefits of adoption and encourages prospective parents to consider adopting teens. The PSAs highlight real families, like the DuRards, who share their deeply emotional journeys of adoption. The campaign aims to dispel myths surrounding adopting teens and raise awareness of the need for families to adopt older children in foster care.
Taylor DuRard, an adoptee and youth advocate, shared their family’s experience: “Being part of this campaign is an incredible honor. It allows us to share the beauty of adoption and encourage others to open their hearts and homes to teens in foster care. Adoption changes lives, not just for the youth, but for families as a whole.”
The PSAs, supported by AdoptUSKids and the Ad Council, have contributed to over one million adoptions from the U.S. foster care system since the campaign began in 2004. The effort continues to evolve, focusing on breaking down barriers to adoption and increasing awareness of the urgent need for families for teens.
For more information on adoption or to view the new PSAs, visit adoptuskids.org. Prospective parents can also call 1-888-200-4005 for more information about the adoption process.
About the PSA Campaign
In partnership with HHS, ACF, AdoptUSKids, and the Ad Council, this campaign has spent two decades inspiring prospective parents to consider adoption from foster care. For details, visit adoptuskids.org.
- New national adoption recruitment campaign PSA https://www.multivu.com/ad_council/9213555-en-ad-council-new-teen-adoption-psa-creative-the-rewards
About the Adoption Excellence Awards
The Adoption Excellence Awards recognize outstanding individuals, families, and organizations contributing to the permanency and well-being of children in foster care. Learn more at Administration for Children and Families
