2008 Woodie Awards
Adoption month raises awareness
By Lindsay Banecker
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Features
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It is a time to celebrate and honor families that have adopted children. November is National Adoption Awareness Month.
However, the main goal of this month is to raise awareness about the 114,000 children in foster care waiting for permanent homes.
Within the month, a specific day is set to recognize those who still need families. National Adoption Day is celebrated every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year it will be held on Nov. 17.
On this day, adoption professionals, child advocates, attorneys and judges dedicate themselves to finalizing adoptions of children from foster care. Last year, more than 3,300 adoptions were finalized.
Every year, the month is kicked off with a proclamation given by the President of the Unites States.
In this year's proclamation, George W. Bush wrote, "We recognize the adoptive and foster families who have shared their homes and hearts with children in need, and we encourage more Americans to consider adopting young people of all ages."
The theme for this year's Adoption Month is "Answering the Call." Many are trying to stress the importance of adopting older children and teenagers.
Advocacy groups claim a person does not have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.
Most of the children that are adopted every year are two years old and younger. Thousands of older kids are left in the foster care system, and many of them never get adopted.
When children are never adopted, they "age out." This means that when a child turns 18, the state no longer provides funding to ensure that they have a place to live.
If a program or sponsor is not available, teens will be left to provide for themselves. Volunteers are needed to teach life skills to teens who are "aging out."
At www.adoption.com, they provide a calendar filled with ideas as to how one can help spread awareness. Activities include talking to local libraries and bookstores about featuring adoption related books, sponsoring a less fortunate child and baking cookies to bring to local foster care offices.
However, the main goal of this month is to raise awareness about the 114,000 children in foster care waiting for permanent homes.
Within the month, a specific day is set to recognize those who still need families. National Adoption Day is celebrated every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year it will be held on Nov. 17.
On this day, adoption professionals, child advocates, attorneys and judges dedicate themselves to finalizing adoptions of children from foster care. Last year, more than 3,300 adoptions were finalized.
Every year, the month is kicked off with a proclamation given by the President of the Unites States.
In this year's proclamation, George W. Bush wrote, "We recognize the adoptive and foster families who have shared their homes and hearts with children in need, and we encourage more Americans to consider adopting young people of all ages."
The theme for this year's Adoption Month is "Answering the Call." Many are trying to stress the importance of adopting older children and teenagers.
Advocacy groups claim a person does not have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.
Most of the children that are adopted every year are two years old and younger. Thousands of older kids are left in the foster care system, and many of them never get adopted.
When children are never adopted, they "age out." This means that when a child turns 18, the state no longer provides funding to ensure that they have a place to live.
If a program or sponsor is not available, teens will be left to provide for themselves. Volunteers are needed to teach life skills to teens who are "aging out."
At www.adoption.com, they provide a calendar filled with ideas as to how one can help spread awareness. Activities include talking to local libraries and bookstores about featuring adoption related books, sponsoring a less fortunate child and baking cookies to bring to local foster care offices.
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