I choose adoption

Well as many of you know I was adopted at eleven months of age, although it was by my own grandparents, I still thank God that someone cared enough about me to give me a home, a family and a future. Since the age of 14 I made the decision to (when i'm ready) adopt my children. I believe that their are plenty of children out their that need a loving home, someone to say "I love you", and a chance in this world. I just went too one adoption website out of curiosity and i was shocked by what I seen,Imagine a place where children go to bed each night without being tucked in. Where babies cry and no one comes. A world without “Mom” or “Dad.” Image at age 15 or 18 putting a child out on the street with no place to call home, just because that’s the age when a child in most countries must leave foster care or the orphanage.

Nobody knows the actual number of kids growing up in orphanages or foster care, but estimates range from 33 million to more than 200 million. These children are abandoned, neglected and forgotten. Most are over-looked for adoption simply because they are older (more than six-years old) and people don’t believe they want to be, or can be adopted. These children are often stigmatized and discriminated against. Their futures are bleak at best, and without a caring adult in their lives, the outcomes are not good.

* 1 in 10 forgotten children will commit suicide as young adults
* Less than half will finish high school
* Many will end up incarcerated or will fall victim to prostitution

The Need in the USA

In the United States more than 140,000 children are waiting to be adopted. Each year, nearly 25,000 of these youth will end up leaving the system when they turn 18 with no family to support them for the future.

Studies have shown that four years after aging out of foster care:

* 25% have experienced homelessness
* 42% have become parents
* Less than 20% are completely self supporting

In the District of Columbia there are approximately 200 children in foster care who have a goal of adoption but do not have an identified adoptive family. Sixty-percent are age 13 or older.

In Los Angeles County, over 35,000 children receive child welfare services; 23,000 of them live in out-of-home care. Over 2,000 of these children will never be able to return home because they reside in long-term foster care with no alternatives. More than 600 children in foster care who have a goal of adoption but do not have an identified adoptive family.
It’s NOT okay.

think about it. I'm not saying everyone should go out and adopt a child,but I saying support those that do, not financial (unless you choose too) support them by you actions, encourage them, throw baby/Adoption showers, and keep them in your prayers. It will be the child that will thank you some day.


*Statistics from http://www.kidsave.org/need.html

Other Adoption websites:
http://www.sc-adopt.org/
http://www.cwa.org/
www.bethany.org/
http://www.opendooradoption.org/
http://www.hopeforchildren.org/
http://christian.adoption.com/