PA—This November, during National Adoption Month, The Children’s Home of Reading is looking to help find permanent families for children and youth throughout PA and raise awareness of the desperate need for adoptive families.
In the United States alone, there are over 122,000 children and youth waiting to be adopted who are at risk of aging out of foster care without permanent family connections. (AFCARS Report)
The average age of children and youth waiting to be adopted is eight years old and 11 percent of are teens between 15 and 17 years old.
Older youth in out-of-home care are much less likely to be adopted than younger children, yet studies have shown that having a close relationship with a caring adult is critical at every age.
That is why this year’s National Adoption Month focuses on the need for permanent connections and highlights the voices of older youth who have experience with adoption and foster care.
Sammy, a 15 year old youth who is waiting for adoption was asked, “What are you looking for in a parent?”
Sammy responded, “Someone who I can talk to and who will be there for me, to laugh with and watch movies and help me with my homework.”
“I think we can all relate as an adult and a child to those sentiments of wanting to belong and have someone be available to them for the little things; it is so heartbreaking to think that so many children don’t have that parental figure they can count on,” said Jill Troutman, VP of Advancement for The Children’s Home of Reading.
The Children’s Home of Reading has also been sharing their need for families through a social media campaign “You Don’t Have to be Perfect to be a Parent” over the last two months to bring awareness of the need and for becoming an adoptive or foster parent that all lead up to a special free Virtual Information Session Tuesday evening, November 17th from 6-7pm. If you are interested in reserving your place for this virtual information session, or would like more information please call 610-478-8266 ext. 435, email [email protected] or visit www.buildingkidslives.org.
“We want to hear from everyone and anyone who might be interested in learning more about adoption or foster care, whether for themselves or to be an Adoption and Foster Care Ambassador by raising the awareness of the tremendous need for families across PA”, said Troutman.
If you are interested in reserving your place for this virtual information session, or would like more information please call 610-478-8266 ext. 435, email [email protected] or visit www.buildingkidslives.org.
*National Adoption Month is sponsored by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
