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tepStone Family & Youth Services has been selected as a 2026 Angels in Adoption honoree by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). This recognition highlights StepStone’s dedication to helping children in foster care find safe, stable, and permanent families.
StepStone Vice President Jennifer Parks and BrightSpring Health Services Vice President of Service Excellence and Stakeholder Relations Chris Hempfling accepted the award on behalf of StepStone on September 29 at the Angels in Adoption Leadership Program in Washington, D.C. CCAI and Kentucky Congressman Morgan McGarvey presented them with a commemorative pin, certificate, and letter of acknowledgment.
- Family preservation, supporting families in remaining together whenever it is safe to do so
- Kinship care, connecting children with relatives who already know and love them
- Trauma-informed support, addressing the needs of children and caregivers with an understanding of their experiences
- Permanency, working toward lasting family connections rather than temporary placements
This award reflects the heart of StepStone’s mission: ensuring that children do not simply move through the foster care system, but move toward the safety, stability, and belonging of a permanent home.
Each year, CCAI selects individuals, families, and organizations across the country that have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of children in need of permanent, safe, and nurturing homes. Through its Angels in Adoption Leadership Program, CCAI honors those who have made extraordinary contributions to adoption, permanency, and child welfare. The program also provides Members of Congress with greater visibility into foster care and adoption efforts in their states and communities.
Although the Adoption Caucus (CCA) and CCAI are distinct entities, they are closely linked in partnership. Over 135 Members of the 119th Congress have joined and are actively engaged in supporting legislation and policy that improves the lives of children and families in the United States and around the world. Both the CCA and CCAI are deeply committed to bipartisanship, strengthening families, and permanency. When Members of Congress hear direct experiences of those affected by child welfare systems, they become engaged in this issue and work to bring about legislative improvements to ensure each child’s right to a family is realized. As a convener, CCAI brings together voices of experience and expertise to the U.S. Congress.
