Washington, DC - According to a recent National Adoption Attitudes Survey, nearly 40 percent of American adults, or more than 80 million people, have considered adopting a child. Consider this fact: If just one in 500 of these adults adopt, all of the 118,000 children that are currently in foster care waiting for adoption would have permanent, loving families.
Since 1987, the number of children in foster care nationally has doubled, and the average period of time a child remains in foster care has lengthened to nearly three years. Each year, approximately 20,000 children in foster care will "age out" of the system without ever having the opportunity to be placed in an adoptive home.
To encourage more people to consider adoption and to celebrate the joys of adoption, November signifies National Adoption Month. The highlight of National Adoption Month occurred this year on November 19, when an unprecedented number of courts across the country opened their doors to finalize the adoptions of thousands of children from the nation's foster care system. Last year, more than 3,400 adoptions in more than 200 communities nationwide, including communities here in Ohio, were finalized as a result of this special day.
Congress has helped to promote adoption by passing legislation that encourages families to consider adoption. The most noteworthy piece of law is the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which promotes child safety, permanency, and well being, and has resulted in significant increases in the numbers of adoptions. The law also created the Adoption Incentives program, which gives states bonus funds for adoption excellence. This program has been extremely successful in moving more children into adoptive homes.
I have always been a strong supporter of adoption. I admire and am inspired by the thousands of families who open their hearts and homes to our nation's children. I know of so many people here in Southern Ohio who have made a powerful difference in the lives of their adopted children.
As a lifelong child advocate, I believe that adoption serves as a wonderful life-giving option for mothers who, for one reason or another, may be considering terminating their pregnancy. In my own experience, I once provided a young woman with a home while she was pregnant, scared and unsure of her options. She was considering terminating her pregnancy, but after many conversations and reflection, she decided to choose the adoption route. She ended up keeping her baby, and today she is a mother to four children and a nurse. I often think of her when I am working on adoption legislation or talking to young pregnant women about their options.
Today, approximately 3,049 children are in need of parents in Ohio alone. That's 3,049 children who need love and want nothing more than to love someone back.
If you are interested in adopting a child, or just want to learn more about the adoption process, my office will also be happy to provide you with additional information.
To better represent you, I need to hear your thoughts and concerns. Please contact me at 8044 Montgomery Road, Room 540, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236; 175 East Main Street, Batavia, Ohio, 45103; or at 601 Chillicothe Street, Portsmouth, Ohio, 45662. My address in Washington is 238 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. Feel free to call 1-800-784-6366.
