Building Families. Creating Connections.
We dream of a world where every young person has forever connections to help them thrive.
We’re on a mission to build permanent families, communities, and connections for youth in foster care.
Learn how you can support our work.
Empowering Young People in PA, NJ & DE
We focus on supporting youth in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware who are at risk of aging out of the foster care system.
Youth ages 8+
Youth with disabilities
Youth with mental or emotional challenges
Siblings who want to stay together
Impact to Date
25,000
Created nearly 25,000 connections
1000
Captured stories of over 1000 kids in care
6000
Connected over 6000 prospective families with adoption agencies
Connecting Families for More than 50 Years
Adoption Center started in 1972 out of Carolyn Johnson’s wooden recipe box. Carolyn had a dream of making sure every kid, no matter their age or circumstances, was connected with a permanent, loving home. Her recipe box organized kids who were seeking homes and families who wanted to adopt.
Since then, we’ve grown into a national organization and helped more than 25,000 families grow.
1972
Carolyn Johnson started Adoption Center of Delaware Valley out of a wooden recipe box on her kitchen table.
1982
Selected by the federal Department of Health and Human Services to operate the National Adoption Center, a national program to find families for children around the country whose parents could not care for them.
1995
Launched the “Faces of Adoption,” a first of its kind website featuring pictures and descriptions of children awaiting adoption throughout the country.
2002
Partnered with the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to launch AdoptUSKids, an enhanced website featuring thousands of kids in foster care who wanted to be adopted.
2004
Carolyn Johnson retired, entrusting the organization into the hands of new leadership.
2007
Co-created the All Children, All Families program in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign.
2009
Achieved our first Seal of Recognition as “Leaders in Supporting and Serving LGBTQ Youth & Families.”
2010
Hosted the first “Adoption Cafe” for nearly 100 LGBTQ+ prospective adopters.
2011
Received the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Outstanding Non-Profit of the Year Award.
2018
Adoption Center of Delaware Valley and National Adoption Center merged into one organization—Adoption Center.
2023
Rebranded Adoption Center to better reflect our child-centered vision and the strength of our network.
Our Team
We’re led by a team of driven, passionate, and compassionate individuals all focused on one thing—building supportive connections for youth in foster care. Meet the people who are doing the work.
Alexandra is a true Philadelphian, always looking out for the underdog. She believes wholeheartedly that children in foster care, especially older children and those with disabilities, deserve a community to help them thrive. She uses her problems-solving abilities to keep data in check and the Adoption Center running.
Dominique was inspired by her undergraduate studies in Human Service Family and Child Welfare to work directly with families and children and advocate for their needs. Her time with Adoption Center started as a child-focused recruiter before becoming Program Director. She has more than a decade of experience working with children and has focused on child welfare for the last several years. Dominque holds her master’s degree in Administration and Human Services.
If you want to work with passionate folks to build brighter tomorrows, we’d love to meet you
Explore career opportunities at Adoption Center or volunteer with us.
Our Board of Directors
Our impact wouldn’t be possible without the guidance and support of our board. These folks come from an array of backgrounds and industries, but they all share one thing in common—a passion for helping young people thrive.
Managing Director at Modulus Valuation Group, LLC
Community Investment Director of Public Affairs at AmeriHealth Caritas
Co-Founder at Wedgwood
Recreation Supervisor at Township of Gloucester
Senior Vice President of Media at Comcast
Founder at Vocal Impact Productions
Community Leader
Business Transformation Senior Manager at Accenture
Marketing Lead at Adventr
Chief Operating Officer at Swartz Culleton PC.
Estate and Trust attorney
We’re always looking for folks with experience in nonprofit advisory roles to join our board. If you’re motivated to create a world where every young person has the resources and connections they need to thrive, we’d love to talk.
Our Partner Network is Growing
Building forever connections for every kid in care is a bigger job than any of us can do alone. We partner with agencies throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware who share our mission.
