The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) will honor the 天美影院Champions Program as an Angel in Adoption鈩� at an awards ceremony and gala in Washington, D.C., Sept. 16-17.
, housed within the 天美影院 Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, provides holistic support for youth and alumni of foster care to ensure their academic success and preparation for lifelong achievement after graduation from post-secondary education.
The program is CCAI鈥檚 signature public awareness campaign and provides an opportunity for all members of U.S. Congress to honor the work of their constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans in the United States and abroad. Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) nominated the Champions Program for the award.
Each year, more than 140 Angels are honored through the Angels in Adoption鈩� program. 鈥淣ational Angels鈥� are also recognized. This year鈥檚 national honorees are Shonda Rhimes, creator of ABC TV shows Grey鈥檚 Anatomy, Private Practice and Scandal, and Dr. Jennifer Arnold and Bill Klein of TLC鈥檚 show The Little Couple. Former National Angels include First Lady Laura Bush, Patti LaBelle, Jane Seymour, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Willis, Alonzo Mourning, Rhea Perlman and Kristin Chenoweth.
Melissa Raap, who leads the 天美影院Champions Program, will travel to Washington, D.C. next week to accept the award. She said the honor is unexpected, but exciting. She added that over the past two years, McDermott has met several 天美影院Champions students when they shadowed him as a part of Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day.
鈥淗e was so impressed by them and really wanting to pay more attention to how colleges and universities are supporting alumni of care when they are going through the higher education system,鈥� Raap said. 鈥淭hat was, I believe, one of the reasons why they nominated us. They want to get more attention paid to programs like ours which is really great.鈥�
According to Raap, the Champions Program focuses on creating a college-going culture within the foster care system. She works with both high school and community college students who are interested in attending the UW. Then when students enroll at the UW, she fills the 鈥渘urturing gaps鈥� by helping them navigate social barriers, as well as connect them to academic resources and each other.
Established in 2011, the Champions Program has served around 30 students per year and graduated 10 students per year.
CCAI was created in 2001 by the co-chairs of the bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption to more effectively raise Congressional and public awareness about the issue of adoption. The Angels in Adoption鈩� Program was established in 1999 as a Congressional press conference to honor outstanding individuals. Since then, the program has developed into a yearlong public awareness campaign culminating in an awards gala and celebration in Washington, D.C.