Northwoods Recognized as a 2026 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace
At Northwoods, our mission is simple: help those who help others.
Every day, our employees work alongside state and local health and human services agencies that support children, strengthen families, and improve lives. We see firsthand the importance of creating stable, supportive environments where children can thrive.
That mission doesn’t stop when our employees leave work.
We’re proud to announce that Northwoods has been recognized by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption as one of the 2026 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in the country. In addition to being named to the national Top 100 list, Northwoods was also recognized as both a Certified Adoption-Friendly Workplace and a Certified Foster-Friendly Workplace.
For us, this recognition is about much more than a ranking. It’s about living our values.
Supporting Families Beyond the Workplace
Families are built in many different ways.
For some, that journey includes adoption. For others, it begins through foster care. While every family’s story is unique, one thing is consistent: these journeys require extraordinary commitment, time, and support.
As employers, we have an opportunity to make those journeys a little easier.
That’s why Northwoods introduced two important benefits in 2024:
- Up to $5,000 in adoption reimbursement for eligible adoption-related expenses, including legal fees, travel, court costs, and adoption fees.
- Twelve weeks of fully paid leave for employees welcoming a child through adoption or foster care.
These benefits aren’t simply additions to our benefits package. They represent our commitment to supporting employees during one of the most meaningful moments of their lives.
Living the Mission We Ask Others to Live
Our customers dedicate their careers to serving children and families.
Whether it’s a child welfare caseworker helping reunify a family, an eligibility worker connecting someone with essential services, or a supervisor supporting their staff through difficult cases, we are constantly reminded that strong communities begin with strong families.
That perspective has shaped who we are as an employer.
Why These Benefits Matter
During our recent webinar partnering with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, one message stood out: employer support can make the difference between a family feeling overwhelmed and feeling empowered.
Adoption and foster care often bring unique financial obligations, emotional challenges, and time commitments. Paid leave gives families the opportunity to focus on bonding, establishing routines, and helping children transition into a stable home. Financial assistance helps reduce barriers that can prevent families from moving forward with adoption.
While every employer can’t solve every challenge, meaningful workplace benefits send an important message: you’re supported.
Recognition That Reflects Our Values
Being recognized as a Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace is certainly an honor, but we see it as something even more meaningful. It reflects the kind of company we’re striving to become.
A company that invests in people.
A company that recognizes families come in many forms.
A company whose internal culture reflects the same compassion and commitment that drives the work we do for our customers every day.
“Our mission has always been about helping those who help others,” Jill said. “Sometimes that means delivering innovative technology to human services agencies. Other times, it means making sure our own employees have the support they need when they’re building their families. Those things aren’t separate, they’re connected.”
Looking Ahead
While these benefits were only introduced in late 2024 and have not yet been utilized by employees, we believe success isn’t measured only by how often a benefit is used.
Success means having the support in place before someone needs it.
We hope every employee knows that if adoption or foster care becomes part of their family’s journey, Northwoods will be there to support them every step of the way.
Because helping those who help others begins with taking care of our own.
