National Adoption Month

For the past 15 years November has been the month to celebrate National Adoption Month. During November there will be many stepping up to help promote national, state, and local agencies as well as foster, kinship care and adoptive family groups. There will be programs, events, and activities hosted all to help raise awareness for thousands of children and youth in foster care who are waiting for permanent loving families. 

Statistics show that an average of 415,000 children are in the foster care system. That large number demonstrates the need of help and of this large number around 108,000 are waiting to be adopted. Children of all ages are awaiting for someone to love them and open their door. Youth and older children also are in need of help. Their young lives still have many milestones to cross. 

National Adoption month originated in 2002. Since that time more than 25,000 children who were once photo's listed on adoptuskids.org  have been adopted. However, older children between ages of 15 and 18 are not equally represented Older youth and teens have lower adoption rates than younger children. 

While private adoption of an infant or adopting internationally may be expensive the cost of U.S. adoption through child welfare system has virtually no cost.  

Adoption may be easier than you think. Some topics often discussed when adoption comes up are personal status so here are some answers for you:

Most states allow individuals to adopt a child whether their status is single, married or divorced. Single parents that adopt children account for 29 percent of all adoptions from foster care in 2014. 

No need for a college degree or high school diploma. The level of education is not important as having a stable, flexible and compassionate home. It is also important that to adopt you must be able to support with a commitment to raise a child throughout life. 

The place you live is not as important as your home being stable and you being able to love the child. Many believe that to qualify for foster service or adoption you must own your own home. 

The age of the individual desiring to adopt a child is not as important as what they can give the child. Many experienced parents do a great job. Regardless of age, income, marital status or sexual orientation if you desire to adopt and have the ability to do so then reach out as there are thousands of children waiting to be adopted. 

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