For the seventh year, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has placed Cornell on its list of the top 100 workplaces. This year, Cornell ranks second on the list of educational institutions, up from third last year.

Cornell has also moved up in its ranking among all industry categories, to 69 from 71, according to the same listing.

“We are pleased to be recognized for Cornell’s commitment to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse families, including our adoptive families,” said Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources and safety services, “and especially to move forward in the rankings as we broaden our programming and services to address our families’ emerging needs and concerns.”

Cornell provides up to $5,000 adoption assistance per child ($6,000 for adoption of a child whom the IRS has defined as having special needs). Cornell parents can also apply for grants to assist with child care expenses of up to $5,000 per year and receive up to 16 weeks of parental leave – some as paid leave – to aid with their transition to a larger family.

An on-site child care center, back-up care services and a dependent care consultant also help Cornell parents meet their career/life responsibilities.

“This year, we launched several new programs to meet the needs of diverse adoptive families, including sponsoring a support group for transracial adoptive and foster families that was begun by a Cornell parent; offering an LGBT adoption workshop; and providing workshops on mindfulness-based parenting of teens and tweens,” said Lynette Chappell-Williams, associate vice president for inclusion and diversity. “Cornell also helps internationally adopted children transition into their new environment by matching college students, as mentors, with adoptee children, “she said.

“Practical day-to-day help is offered through the university’s Family Helpers List web page, which is a directory of Cornell students and community members who provide baby, pet, tutoring, elder care, housekeeping, errand-running, lawn care and house-sitting services, and through a variety of email lists and a parents e-newsletter,” Chappell-Williams said.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a not-for-profit public organization that is dedicated to increasing adoptions throughout North America. The foundation was created by the late Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers. Thomas, who was adopted as a child, was a longtime advocate of adoption rights.