The Donaldson Adoption Institute’s mission from 1996-2017 was to provide leadership that improved laws, policies and practices – through sound research, education and advocacy – in order to better the lives of everyone touched by adoption. With a clear and strategic focus in four key areas, DAI continually uncovered and amplified opportunities to encourage adoption reform and practically meet the needs of our ever-evolving community and the professionals that serve it. Our work was guided by the following key principles: The Adoption Experience: Focusing on the entire adoption community (first/birth parents, adopted people, adoptive parents and extended families of all), DAI worked to improve the adoption experience and strengthen families by promoting healthy identity in adopted people, safeguarding the rights of parents (expectant, first/birth and adoptive) and educating practitioners, professionals and policy makers. Foster Care Adoption: DAI’s targeted research and advocacy helped to ensure the most vulnerable children and families received the timely attention and quality support they deserve as they navigated the system. Adoption Support Services: “Re-homing” serves as the most recent and disturbing example of what can happen when children and families are not properly prepared and supported before, during, and for many years following an adoption. DAI worked to increase access to quality pre and post-adoption education and training to ensure the wellbeing of individuals and families. The Modern Family: The landscape of American family life is rapidly changing. Nowhere are these changes being felt more strongly and directly than in the areas of adoption, foster care, and assisted reproductive technology. DAI encouraged the acceptance of diverse families and believes that all families can benefit from quality support.