The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Angels in Adoption™ Program honors individuals, couples, and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions on behalf of children in need of families. Since the program’s inception in 1999, almost 2,000 Angels have received this honor. CCAI also awards a select number of National Angels in Adoption™. As the name implies, these are individuals whose contributions in the fields of adoption or foster care have had a national impact. In addition to giving Members of Congress a firsthand look at the foster care and adoption related work taking place throughout the country, the Angels in Adoption™ program seeks to draw media attention to raise public awareness about the positive difference adoption makes in the life of a child. Last year’s event alone resulted in 140 human interest stories being published in newspapers throughout the nation. These stories serve as inspiration for others to step forward to consider fostering or adopting. The Angels in Adoption™ travel to Washington D.C. to participate in three days of events all designed to train them in using their personal experience to affect change on behalf of children in need of homes and to celebrate their hard work and dedication to the issue.

CCAI's Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program is a highly esteemed Congressional Internship for young adults who spent time in the foster care system. The FYI program began in 2003 as an effort to raise awareness to federal policymakers about the needs and unique perspectives of those who spent time in foster care. As part of the program, CCAI organizes retreats, advocacy trainings, and various networking opportunities with experts in the child welfare field. Throughout the summer, the FYI interns spend time researching about policy issues affecting foster children across the country. These experiences allow the interns to create a policy report that is presented at a Congressional briefing and released to child welfare advocates across the country. As a result of the program, federal policymakers are shown firsthand the experiences of youth in foster care, and as a result go on to use their new knowledge to inspire legislative change. Interns participating in this program benefit both personally and professionally, gaining experience and skills that will bolster their careers for years to come and with a foundation to be lifelong advocates for improving the foster care system.