It is the wish of almost every child in foster care to be adopted. Either by a caring relative or family of strangers. Just someone who is there at night to provide comfort in the dark after a storm. Someone to watch them play a sport or act in the school play. November is an important month in making their wish come true. It is National Adoption Awareness Month. According to the National Adoption Council (NCA), states are not required to report the number of completed adoptions in a given year. However, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) reports approximately 127,000 unrelated domestic adoptions were completed in 1992. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provide a harsher picture for these children. DHHS reports approximately 20,000 of 470,000 foster children were adopted in 1997. Many of these children are labeled “waiting children.” This label is given to them because the legal parental rights of their birthparents have been terminated, and placing them with an adoptive family has been difficult. “Waiting children” are categorized as special needs because they are over the age of seven, have physical, mental, and emotional disabilities; or are part of a sibling group. National Adoption Awareness Month was created to help “waiting children” and prospective adoptive families find each other. During the month of November, Department of Social Services and adoption agencies throughout the United States sponsor events to match potential adoptive and foster families with children who can be adopted within months. Major events include: Matching parties potential adoptive and foster families are matched with a child or children with similar interests. Many of these parties are sponsored by Department of Social Services or local adoption agencies, and are held in bowling alleys, skating rinks, and parks. Adoption Exchange books provide a picture and description of each child or children who are available for adoption. Contact information and how to start the process to adopt the child is available to prospective adoptive parents. Adoption Awareness programs profile a child or sibling group on local news programs once a week through out the year. Contact information is provided for interested adoptive families at the need of each profile. If you or someone you know is interested in adoption, consider a “waiting child” during the month of November. Contact your local Department of Social Services to find out what is required in your state to make a foster child’s dream of becoming a family come true. Lisa Mathey is an adoptive parent of two daughers. In addition to her personal experience, Lisa is an adoption trainer, assisting families in completing the domestic adoption process. Visit Lisa's webiste at http://www.adoptioneducators.com for information on how to complete the domestic adoption process.
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