November is National Adoption Month. This started almost 20 years ago to bring awareness to children in foster care. It first started in 1976 when Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis announced an Adoption Week to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in foster care. In 1984 President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week. In 1995 President Bill Clinton expanded the week to the entire month of November and thus it continues.
According to Adopt Us Kids https://www.adoptuskids.org
There are currently more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States. They range in age from infants to 21 years old (in some states). The average age of a child in foster care is more than 8 years old, and there are slightly more boys than girls. Of those 400,000 over 100,000 are open for adoption. Meaning the parental rights have been terminated and they are looking for their forever home.
Fostering children is not for everyone. It is a hard road to walk but there are many ways to help support those that do.
Provide Respite
Get your foster care license and provide respite to other foster families or do emergency foster care. Emergency care can mean having a foster child in your home for a short period of time. An emergency placement can last anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days.
Become a Court-Appointed Special Advocate/CASA
CASA workers are volunteers that work with the court and the foster homes to see that the children are not lost in the system and that their needs and wants are heard. You are the child’s voice in the courtroom. Training is free and you will make a difference!
Donate
Donate items to foster care agency. Many need school supplies, shoes, clothes, or even toys. Suitcases or bags of any kind are often needed. Did you know that many children go from home to home with their belongings in trash bags?
Bring a meal or a gift card
Do you know most kids show up wearing what they have on their backs? Emergency placement means they were removed as is and taken to a foster home. It is up to the foster family to clothe that child. Often times it means an emergency run to a local department store. If you know of a foster family that gets a new child, show up with a gift card to your local store. Even $20 will give that kid something to put on. Something new. Something their own. Also, bring a meal. Most times a new child will cause some shifting in life schedule. It is par for the course. Let this new family know they are not alone. Small things like this mean a lot in the foster care community.
Every day I look at our Little Girl and am thankful that she is a part of our life. Our journey was long and winding but in the end, we have our daughter and more importantly, she has a forever home that will always be hers.
I have several friends who have adopted wonderful children #dreamteam@_karendennis
I was actually just looking into becoming a CASA. One of my friends did it in my area for a few years and she said it was so rewarding. #DreamTeam
I have massive respect for those who adopt and foster children, they should be celebrated everyday not just this month!
Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week.
Thanks for those kind words. Sometimes families need support so they can regroup and other times families need to be changed for the sake of the child. It is hard road but one that is needed.
Wow what a journey, it’s an incredible thing to do. The deepest respect to you for giving such a wonderful gift to a child #thatfridaylinky
What an admoreble thing you have done. Some great tips for children in need X #thesatsesh
I love the bring a meal or gift card idea. So simple but would make a huge difference. Thanks for sharing #POCOLO
I’m glad you included the optional things we can do if we aren’t called to actually have foster kids in our home. We all need to be in this together, supporting those who DO actually take children in. I have several friends who do, and they are amazing!
Adoptive families are amazing and that is a new quote to me at the top and a very powerful one. #PoCoLo
#thesatsesh I look after all our LACs and PLACs in school and I’m super proud of our government (which is rare) for raising PLAC pupils needs and focus since September 2018 as they so often suffer the same attachment /trauma issues that a LAC does. Wonderful post and I will defo be doing some sort of caring once little dude is old enough.
We have so many things we can donate — clothes, shoes, etc.. Thak you for sharing this! #triumphanttales xoxo
It’s nice that there are good people on this place we call earth
Massive respect for you and anyone who adopts or foster or in any way shape or form help these kids.
I have massive respect for you and those like you who adopt and foster children or help them in any way, shape or form . There should be much much more people like you .