The Children's Home of Pittsburgh

What it reported doing in 2024

Counseling & family support services for more than 130 years, the children's home has been respected in the community and across the country for the quality of work in adoption. More than 7,000 infants and children have been placed with families through the children's home. The adoption program provides a comprehensive range of services in support of adoptive families, birth families, and adopted children and adults. The success is based on a belief that adoption is not a one-time event, but a lifelong journey. The program offers a lifetime of support services through a staff of experienced professional counselors. The services and programs provided by the children's home include infant placement services, which consist of birthparent counseling services, adoptive family services and transitional infant care; post adoption services; private adoption services; infertility counseling; research and reunion; community education; adoption from foster care services; and services provided for Pennsylvania's statewide adoption and permanency network (swan.)the children's home is also a leader in the field of open adoption. We began conducting open adoptions over 29 years ago and have learned much from the clients we've served and from specialized staff training. Open adoption can be a rewarding, positive experience for all involved - birth families, adoptive families and child - with the right support.the infant adoption program services include the following:- birthparent counseling services - professional counseling services provide birthparents with nonjudgmental support and guidance. If the birthparents choose adoption, the counselors assist in creating an adoption plan for the baby. Counseling and group support is provided during and after the pregnancy.- adoptive family services - adoptive parents are offered support, counseling and education. A thorough orientation is conducted followed by an application process and the completion of a family study as required by Pennsylvania law. A family is then supported through their wait time, placement and finalization.- transitional infant care - short-term foster care is available for babies of birthparents who need time to decide about adoption. Transitional infant foster families are carefully selected, approved and specially trained by staff of the adoption program. They are supported during and after their time caring for an infant and help transition infants to their permanent adoptive homes.- post-adoption services - information, education, consultation and short-term counseling are provided for individuals, couples, and families dealing with adoption-related issues. A variety of adoptive family support groups are also offered.in addition to the infant placement services and post-adoption services, the children's home provides the following additional services:- private adoption counseling services - we offer individualized, short-term counseling services for birthparents in private adoptions, which are provided at the recommendation of an attorney, at the request of the birthparent or the prospective adoptive parents, and/or in fulfillment of a legal requirement by the state in which the adoption is to occur.- infertility counseling - infertility-related counseling is available for individuals and couples as they make decisions regarding the testing and treatment of infertility. We support them as they cope with related issues including sexuality, marital conflict, communicating with friends about infertility, and perhaps the possibility of adoption. Services range from single consultations to ongoing support. An infertility support group is also offered monthly.- research and reunion program - the research and reunion program provides research services and emotional support for adopted people wishing to learn more about their birthparents. Services range from basic birth history information to full searches of sealed court records (after court approval). The children's home help

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81.7%; rating input score 82
• Program expense ratio: 92.2%; rating input score 92
• Fundraising efficiency: $22.51 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 18.1%; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.12; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.15; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.6%; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.1% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.2% per year; rating input score 100; 18th percentile among comparable filings