About me
Bob had a life-long dedication to social services; along with his wife, he was a foster parent for 20 years, impacting over 100 foster kids. He later spent 30 years with the Daniel Memorial Institute in Jacksonville, FL, culminating with being the Director of the Florida Adoption Information Center. He assisted thousands with adoption services impacting generations of families. He was a nationally recognized subject matter expert in adoption and foster care services and a member of the Board of Directors for the National Adoption Association when he recently retired. His joy was contagious, and his mentorship shaped generations of adoption professionals. When he retired, NAA honored Bob with our Generosity of Spirit Award in 2024-an especially fitting tribute for someone whose impact, warmth, and wisdom extended far beyond the sessions he planned.
Bob Rooks was an incredible leader, friend, and advocate for children, youth, families and the adoption workforce. He was extremely well-known in Florida and across the country as the go-to person for learning about best practices in child welfare. Over the years, Bob proudly served on our Board of Directors as a conference committee chairperson for more gatherings than can be counted. Bob will remain in our hearts. His best practices and generous contributions will live on within the NAA community as we continue our mission of improving outcomes for children, youth, and families.
