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!
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]
