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All Foster Children Deserve Permanent Homes and Loving Families

Target: U.S. Adoption Policy Makers
Sponsored by: Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Children enter foster care through no fault of their own, as victims of child abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Unfortunately for too many children, the hope and dream for a permanent, loving new family never becomes a reality. Up to 20,000 children available for adoption will turn 18 and leave the system without a family this year.

In fact, more than 114,000 children in the U.S. foster care system are waiting to be adopted right now. More than half of them are nine years of age or older. They often wait five years or more to be adopted, can move three or more times in foster care and are frequently separated from siblings.

Policy makers need to know that Americans believe:

Every child deserves to live in a safe, loving and permanent family.
No child should linger in foster care or leave the system at age 18 without a permanent family of their own.
No child is unadoptable.

Tell U.S. policy makers the process of adopting foster children must be streamlined so every foster child is adopted into a permanent, loving home!

deadline: 8-26-2008
goal: 4,000

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Dear [U.S. policy makers],

Children enter foster care through no fault of their own, as victims of child abuse, neglect or abandonment. Many of these children are permanently removed from their homes for their own safety and are made available for adoption.

Today, more than 114,000 children wait in the U.S. foster care system to be adopted. More than half of them are nine years of age or older. They often wait five years or more to be adopted, can move three or more times in foster care and frequently are separated from siblings.

Up to 20,000 children available for adoption will turn 18 and leave the system without a family this year.

I believe that:

- Americans need to be made aware of the need for foster care adoption.
- No child is unadoptable.
- The process of adopting from foster care must be streamlined.
- Post-adoption services must be made available and affordable.
- The lives of these children must be a national priority.

[Your comment here]

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

We signed the “All Foster Children Deserve Permanent Homes and Loving Families” petition!

# 6,778:

6:04 pm PDT, Aug 26, Name not displayed, Maryland

# 6,777:

7:11 pm PDT, Aug 25, JOSSIE ROSS, Canada

# 6,776:

4:32 pm PDT, Aug 19, Jayne Riley, United Kingdom
I believe that children deserve a stable chance in life. I also believe that they should confidentially consulted as to their own requirements. Please take this into account and expedite the legal system to prevent the number of massive disruptions to their lives.

# 6,775:

1:26 pm PDT, Aug 19, Name not displayed, Belgium
How do we explain to a child who has had far too many sorrows and heartache for his age that he once again needs to detatch himself from his current family and go through the painful process of finding a new one? Thousands and thousands of children around the world are punished for things they have no control over. Foster care adoption is an absolute must for our society. We have let it go on for far too long and we now have the chance to stand up and show compassion and understanding for those children without parents. Every child is unique and every adult is too so there is no reason why every single child can not be adopted. They need this and they want it. I really hope that you will make the right decision and I pray to God almight that he will give you wisdom and understanding.

# 6,774:

9:46 am PDT, Aug 19, Kristi Schultz, Ohio

# 6,773:

4:28 pm PDT, Aug 15, Samantha Trosky, Illinois
Children need love and consisitancy.

# 6,772:

10:41 am PDT, Aug 14, JENNIFER LUCERO, Kansas

# 6,771:

6:14 am PDT, Aug 14, Randy Sanner, Pennsylvania

# 6,770:

9:20 pm PDT, Aug 2, Kelly Morris, Georgia

# 6,769:

1:37 pm PDT, Jul 28, Nick McGuire, Ohio

# 6,768:

3:53 pm PDT, Jul 24, Name not displayed, Maryland
I volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for a foster child who is 12 years old and legally orphaned. He is a loving little boy, and if more Americans were aware of the plight of children like him, perhaps he would have a chance to be adopted. Please help ensure that children like him receive the services they need to enjoy a happy and successful childhood.

# 6,767:

11:55 am PDT, Jul 21, Angela Zuniga, Minnesota

# 6,766:

1:49 pm PDT, Jun 13, Name not displayed, Tennessee
I care. I've bee in the foster system enough to see it needs this change.

# 6,765:

11:54 pm PDT, Jun 12, Barbara Bunton, Texas

# 6,764:

9:15 am PDT, Jun 8, Joseph Stephens, Florida

# 6,763:

7:51 am PDT, Jun 3, Name not displayed, Missouri

# 6,762:

10:56 am PDT, May 22, Faye Mowers, Canada
Children need to stay where they are safe, and loved. If someone cares enough, and the kids want to stay, then allow this, as it is best for the kids

# 6,761:

12:11 pm PDT, May 19, Nadine Hawreschuk, Canada
These children deserve to live in homes where they feel loved and feel like they have self worth so they can grow and become adults who do the same for their own children.

# 6,760:

9:10 am PDT, May 2, Ashley Simpson, New York

# 6,759:

12:09 pm PDT, May 1, Jenny Vegan, United States Minor Outlying Islands

# 6,758:

7:15 pm PDT, Apr 27, Cindy Arroyo, Texas
I am a Foster Parent and had a child in my home for 2 yrs options were given to me to adopt which all my family was excited about. April 17th,2008 CPS removed him to be place with his brothers he has met 2-3 times this year. Was returned to mom and returned back to me 3 weeks later. siblings are 5months old and 1 yrs. I got this child when he was 12 months and he will be turning 3 next month. WHEN HE WAS REMOVED FROM MY HOME WE WERE DEVASTED CRIED EVERYDAY SINCE HE WAS REMOVED FROM MY HOME. mY OLDER SON HAD AN ATTACHMENT TO HIM AND HE HAD ATTACHMENT TO ALL OF US BUT MORE TOWARDS MY SON. MY SON HAS GONE INTO A DEPRESSION HE CRYS EVERYDAY AND AT NIGHT HE FALLS ASLEEP CRYING. I DO NOT THINK THAT WAS FAIR FOR US AND FOR HIM.

# 6,757:

10:51 am PDT, Apr 23, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
I am a current foster mom to a 16 month old. He has been with us for only a month now and has quickly adjusted to a schedule and routine. It is heart-breaking to think that this child may someday have to go back to his birth parents who can not provide half of the stuff he needs. They do not meet any of their goals each week that have been outlined by the state yet they are still entitled to see him an hour a week which only makes it more difficult for the child to understand. How can this be right?

# 6,756:

6:40 pm PDT, Apr 17, Vanessa Garvy, Illinois

# 6,755:

1:28 pm PDT, Apr 16, Name not displayed, Arizona
I completely agree. I have been trying to adopt my sisters children out of foster care (in another state) and I have been having one problem after another. The state is non-cooperative. They dont return phone calls. They make untruthful statements. They do not want them placed with family. They are punishing the children for the mistakes of an adult.

# 6,754:

9:37 am PDT, Apr 14, Alyssa Gombosi, Michigan
SO MANY CHILDREN DERSERVE A PERMANIT HOME TO LAY THEIR HEADS. I GREW UP IN FOSTER CARE AN DWAS BOOTED OUT ON THE EXACT DAY I TURNED 18. I HAD NOITHING. ALL KIDS NEED HOME NO MATTER WHAT. AND I WOULD LOVE TO OPEN MY HOME TO ALL CHILDREN WHO NEED A MOM AND DAD

# 6,753:

1:17 am PDT, Apr 14, Karin Hopper, Washington
This is a child's life (not the parents). Get children adoptable faster, and 18 is not an age to "dump" kids. Homes for kids 18+ or solutions.

# 6,752:

10:49 am PDT, Apr 13, Samantha Kinstle, Virginia

# 6,751:

9:13 am PDT, Apr 13, Karen Collins, California
Imagine your children in this situation ! Get with it people in charge of others lives.

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All Foster Children Deserve Permanent Homes and Loving Families

This petition has been closed.