Press, Awards, Publications & Accreditation
Press
National Press
New York Times “Foster Care Was Always Tough. Covid-19 Made It Tougher.”
TIME Magazine “Foster Care: Extreme Edition”
New York Times “A Determined Quest to Bring Adoptive Ties to Foster Teenagers”
Local Press
STLPR (July 9, 2024) “Foster care advocate encourages youth to ‘accept the challenge’ and move beyond adversity”
5 On Your Side KSDK (November 30, 2023) “A Place to Call Home: Little Wishes”
5 On Your Side KSDK (November 21, 2023) “Grant a Little Wish for a child impacted by foster care”
5 On Your Side KSDK (November 9, 2023) “Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition raised more than enough funds for ‘Foster Hope Day'”
Town & Style (September 6, 2023) “Denim & Dreams: West County Center”
5 On Your Side KSDK (May 25, 2023) “St. Louis nonprofit recruiting Black foster parents for Black children”
STLPR (April 10, 2023) “How one St. Louis nonprofit is recruiting Black adults to foster Black children”
Feast Magazine (April 8, 2023) “Bites at the Big Top, an event to benefit the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, will feature over 20 restaurants, breweries and distilleries around St. Louis”
5 On Your Side KSDK (March 28, 2023) “Bites at the Big Top: Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition hosts night of food, drinks for a cause”
5 On Your Side KSDK (February 3, 2021) “Show Me St. Louis”
St. Louis Public Radio (June 5, 2020) “Pandemic Can’t Keep 3 St. Louis Kids From Their Forever Home”
Ladue News (August 6, 2019) “The Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition Boutique Blowout”
St. Louis Business Journal (July 2, 2019) “Meet the Most Influential Business Women class of 2019”
St. Louis Magazine (August 5, 2018) “Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition bridges growing gap between available foster families and estranged kids”
Ladue News (June 15, 2018) “Ladue News Charity Awards Winner: Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition”
Ladue News (June 8, 2018) “2018 Charity Awards”
St. Louis Public Radio (June 5, 2018) “Changing needs, strategies in foster care as number of children in Missouri’s system increases”
The St. Louis American (February 27, 2018) “‘Kids will lose their chance for a family,’ St. Louis adoption advocates race to secure federal funds”
Office of Missouri Governor (January 22, 2018) “Governor Greitens Announces FY19 Budget Proposal”
Belleville News-Democrat (December 15, 2017) “Bring Christmas cheer to a child-in-need”
Alton Telegraph (August 26, 2017) “Brother and sister in search of forever home”
Illinois Business Journal (July, 2017) “13th Annual Simmons Employee Foundation Golf Tournament raises $26,000 for Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition”
KSDK 5 On Your Side (June 20, 2017) “More foster parents needed due to opioid epidemic”
KBIA (March 19, 2017) “Parents of adopted children navigate education challenges”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (February 27, 2017) “Tiniest victims of Missouri’s heroin epidemic flood into foster care”
Old Newsboys (November 19, 2015) “Finding family for foster children.”
The Chronicle of Social Change (November 12, 2015) “Detectives on the Case for Older Foster Children”
Goodshop (November 4, 2015) “Little Wishes have Big Impact on Foster Kids”
Vision for Children (June 19, 2015) “‘Stepping Up for Kids’ Honors Outstanding Service to Kids in Foster…”
Youthbridge Community Foundation (June 19, 2015) “YouthBridge Presents $25,000 Grant to Foster and Adoptive…”
KDHX Collateral Damage (July 21, 2015) “27: Melanie Scheetz Talks State of Foster Care”
Town & Style (June 10th, 2015) “Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition 9th Annual Old Bags.”
St. Louis Post Dispatch (April 2015) “Parents should work with schools to avoid student suspensions”
St. Louis Post Dispatch (March 2015) “Prom season brings a little Cinderella magic for area foster and adoptive kids”
St. Louis Review (November 2014) “Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition taking steps to place foster kids in loving homes at rapid pace”
St. Louis American (June, 2014) “Youth Collect Gifts for Kids in Foster Care”
Volunteers of the Year Press Release (May, 2104)
Growe Eisen Karlen Helps Support Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition (March, 2014)
Bank of America Awards Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition For Its Impact in St. Louis (February, 2014)
Missouri Law Extends the Definition of Family for Foster Children (2013)
Buy Pretzels, Help Foster Youth (11.12.14)
Bank of America Awards Workforce Development Grant to Support Foster Youth(10.16.12)
John Phillips Named Vice President of the Board of Directors – 10.2.13 (10.02.13)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (9.23.13) Missouri law extends the definition of family for foster children
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (9.10.13) 101 ESPN Radio and River City Casino Join Forces to Help Foster Youth
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (9.30.13) Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition Wins 2013 BBB Torch Award
CPI Corp. Partners with the Dave Thomas Foundation in Placing Children in Permanent Homes (05.22.12)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (4.1.13) Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition Recognized as Leader in Child Abuse Prevention
St. Louis Magazine (3.20.13) “Girls’ Night Out: Old Bags 2013”
Town & Style (2.15.13) “Old Bags”
Brentwood Pulse (2.12.13) “Trivia Night Plus Vote [RE]FRESH Best Resale!”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (11.25.12) “Charitable Birthdays Redefines Giving for Kids”
STL Today (10.16.12) “PNC awards grant to support foster youth work program”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (05.20.12) [RE]FRESH
Ladue News (07.06.12) “Old Bags Party”
St. Louis Magazine (04.12.12) “The Good, The Bad, and The Lovely”
Foster Children Benefit From Old Bags (04.10.12)
Town & Style (02.22.12) “Little Wishes. Big Dreams.”
Ladue News (01.27.12) “Little Wishes. Big Dreams.”
Fontbonne Alumni Magazine (01.02.12)”A Refreshing Tale of Collaboration”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (03.20.11) “Agency’s Store Fosters Job Skills”
Awards
2023: “Children’s Bureau Champion” Award For Advancing Equity, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
2020: “Diverse Business Leaders” Award, St. Louis Business Journal, Rossi Summers – Chief Operating Officer
2020: “Top-rated Charity” Award, Charity Navigator
2019: “Presidential Volunteer Service” Award, Points of Light
2019: Award for “Demonstrating Innovative Solutions,” What’s Right With the Region, FOCUS St. Louis
2018: “Innovative Practices” Award, Council on Accreditation (COA)
2018: “Outstanding Charity” Award, Ladue News
2017: “Stepping Up for Kids” Award, St. Louis Community Family Partnership
2016: “Outstanding Adoption Specialist,” Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
2016: “Parent Group of the Year” Award, North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
2015: “Incarnate Word Foundation” Award
2015: “Stepping Up for Kids” Award, St. Louis Community Family Partnership
2014: “Neighborhood Builders” Award, Bank of America
2013: “Adoption Excellence” Award, Department of Health and Social Services
2012: “Advanced Improvers” Awardee, Sigma Aldrich
2011: “Innovative Programming” Award, Missouri Association for Social Welfare
2010: “What’s Right with the Region” Award, FOCUS St. Louis
2009: “Most Worthy Cause” Best of St. Louis, St. Louis Riverfront Times
2009: “Georgia Frontiere Community Quarterback” Award, St. Louis Rams
2008: “Leadership” Award, The Women of the Well
2007: “Angels in Adoption” Award, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute
2006: “Adoption Activist” Award, North America Council on Adoption
2005: “What’s Right with the Region” Award, FOCUS St. Louis
2004: “Service to America” Award, National Association of Broadcasters
Publications
2015: Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, School of Social Work, University of Minnesota. “The Importance of Rice Pudding.” Melanie Sheetz & Gayle Flavin, LMSW. Link to Publication (Page 24)
2013: National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment. “Final Missouri Diligent Recruitment Grant Report.” Link to Publication
Accreditation
Council on Accreditation – In 2012, the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition achieved accreditation through the National Council on Accreditation (COA). COA Standards reflect current best practices in our field as determined through extensive reviews and a rigorous, multi-stage development and vetting process. Implementing COA standards means our organization is among the best in the field. We greatly appreciate your contribution to the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition’s success. COA accreditation ensures that our clients can be confident that their needs are addressed in accordance with the most stringent standards of public, as well as private, accountability.
Better Business Bureau® Accredited Charity – The Coalition is an A+ BBB Accredited Charity, meaning it meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder.