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Jedd Medefind

CAFO President

Desiring to help inspire and grow this deep transformation, Jedd serves as President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.

Through CAFO, more than 300 respected organizations unite in shared initiatives to inspire and equip families, churches and organizations for effective service to vulnerable children and families — from adoption and US foster care, to aid and empowerment programs worldwide.

Prior to his this role, Jedd served in the White House as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, leading the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In this post, he oversaw reform efforts across the government to make community- and faith-based groups central partners in all Federal efforts to aid the needy, from prisoner reentry to global AIDS. As described by the Harvard Political Review, these reforms “fundamentally changed the government’s strategy for improving the lives of the downtrodden…”

Previously, Jedd held a range of posts in the California State Legislature. He has worked, studied and served in more than thirty countries, with organizations ranging from Price-Waterhouse in Moscow to Christian Life Bangladesh.

Jedd writes and speaks frequently about faith, human flourishing, and wise use of emerging technology. His books include Upended and Four Souls, and his appear in publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post to Comment Magazine and The Gospel Coalition. He also appears regularly on radio and podcast interviews with both faith-based and mainstream outlets, from NPR and Al Jazeera to Moody Radio. Jedd’s most recent book, Becoming Home, spotlights how families and churches can embrace vulnerable children with wisdom and love through adoption, foster care, mentoring and more.

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Latest Articles by Jedd Medefind

The One Gift that Unlocks All the Others – A Thanksgiving Reflection

“Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”      --Elizabeth...
Read More about The One Gift that Unlocks All the Others – A Thanksgiving Reflection

New Study Estimates Number of Children Orphaned by COVID-19 in U.S.

The term “orphan” is rarely used in relation to children in the US today.  But last week, the journal Pediatrics released a pre-publication paper estimating the number of children orphaned by...
Read More about New Study Estimates Number of Children Orphaned by COVID-19 in U.S.

COVID’s Impact on Children: More than One Million Orphaned

Several new reports highlight what those laboring in the field of child welfare have experienced since the beginning of the pandemic:  although COVID-19 has a very limited direct impact upon...
Read More about COVID’s Impact on Children: More than One Million Orphaned

New CAFO Research Findings: Adverse Childhood Experiences Appear to Drive Up Kids’ Media Use

New findings from the CAFO Center on Applied Research indicate that children who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) may be more likely to overuse screens.   While ACEs and other...
Read More about New CAFO Research Findings: Adverse Childhood Experiences Appear to Drive Up Kids’ Media Use

Supreme Court: Americans Can Still Work Together

In a moment when American society seems to be pulling apart, last week the Supreme Court pulled decisively in the opposite direction. Its 9-0 ruling in Fulton v. City of...
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A Story from Paraguay: Celebrating Motherhood and Family Like Never Before

The best stories aren't tidy.  They often carry as much ache as joy.  But they remind that, by God's grace, new life can rise from wreckage, like flowers springing from...
Read More about A Story from Paraguay: Celebrating Motherhood and Family Like Never Before
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