Thirty children in Alabama’s foster care system were officially paired with their "forever families" Nov. 17 as part of the state’s National Adoption Day campaign. Sponsored by the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), the adoptions were conducted by probate judges from six counties across the state to promote National Adoption Month.
Later that evening, some 300 people gathered at the Vestavia Hills City Center in Birmingham for a special celebration hosted by Heart Gallery Alabama. Working with DHR to recruit foster and adoptive parents for children, Heart Gallery displayed pictures of "waiting" children and retired gallery photos of children adopted earlier that day.
"It was a wonderful evening — an emotional and encouraging experience," said Marie Youngpeter, program manager for DHR’s office of adoption. "It is wonderful to be able to recognize the children who have found their ‘forever homes’ and also use it as a means to make the needs real to people in attendance."
With roots that stretch back to 1976, National Adoption Month’s theme Answering the Call: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be a Perfect Parent attempts to persuade more families to consider fostering and adoption. Currently there are about 118,000 children across the United States awaiting adoption. In Alabama, there are 630 children in need of permanent families.
"Many people out there have the capability and commitment to parent children," Youngpeter said. "They just need to express that interest."
Although Alabama adoptions are on the rise, many more families are needed to adopt children currently in foster care. According to Youngpeter, about 380 "waiting" children will likely be adopted by current foster parents. The other 250, however, still need adoptive or foster families, which she hopes will be found after this month’s emphasis.
DHR Commissioner Page Walley agrees. "The annual observance of adoption awareness month in November celebrates the families that have grown through adoption," he said. "The observance also reminds us that many foster children are still waiting for a forever family."
Herbert Newell, ministry executive director of Birmingham’s Lifeline Children’s Services, a nonprofit, state-licensed adoption agency, also hopes more people will consider adopting children or support others interested in adoption.
"From a faith-based perspective, adoption so adequately mirrors our salvation in Jesus Christ," he said. "We are adopted into God’s family when we become believers. There are so many kids that need homes and so many kids that need to hear the gospel."
For more information regarding adopting a child in Alabama’s foster care system, contact DHR at 1-866-425-5437.
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