Since 1990, November has been designated as National Adoption Month. The goal of National Adoption Month is to promote adoption in a positive light and to educate the public concerning the adoption of children currently in the foster care system.
It is estimated that there are currently over 127,000 children in the foster care system that are “free and clear for adoption.” This means that parents rights have been legally terminated and the child is eligible to be placed with an adoptive family. One of the reasons that so many adoptable children are still in the system is that many of these children are older or have special needs. The older a child becomes the harder it is to find an adoptive family for the child. Each year hundreds of children age out of the foster system with no family ties, and no place to call home. It really is heart breaking.
During this month you can expect to see many news stories and advertisements promoting foster parenting and adoption from the foster care system. Adoption and providing foster care may not be for you and your family but there are ways that you can help adoptive families and children who need homes:
- Become a foster parent or respite parent.
- Become a CASA (Child advocate training is required).
- Become a Secret Santa for your local foster system.
- Donate money to help an adoptive couple fund the adoption of a child.
- If you are a legal professional provide legal assistance to adoptive parents for free or at a discounted rate.
- If you are creative help an adoptive couple design their Family Profile Book, or adoption website for free or at a discounted rate.
- If you are a photographer offer to take professional pictures of the finalization of the adoption, or for the Family Profile Book for free or at a discounted rate.
- If you bake awesome cakes offer to bake the cake for the placement or finalization celebration for free or at a discounted rate.
- If you can clean and organize offer to help an adoptive family prepare for their pre and post placement home inspections.
- Pray for families who foster and for the children in the foster care system.
- Pray for families who are going through the adoption process.
It would be wonderful if every child could find a forever family.