More than 100,000 children are waiting for a safe, loving home. Consider helping by learning more at one of the helpful links below or spreading the word during November’s National Adoption Month. Grandparents are already the primary caretakers for more than six million U.S. children, and GRAND encourages older Americans to consider sharing their experience and wisdom with one of the many children currently awaiting adoption.
Some adoption links to get you started (more are available on the web:http://www.adoption.com/
www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/nam/
http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/
About National Adoption Month
November is National Adoption Month, a month set aside each year to raise awareness about the adoption of children and youth from foster care. This year’s National Adoption Month initiative targets adoption professionals by focusing on ways to recruit and retain parents for the 115,000 children and youth in foster care waiting for adoptive families.
The 2010 theme for National Adoption Month is, “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent,” which builds on the national adoption recruitment campaign and public service announcements produced in partnership with the Ad Council, AdoptUsKids, and the Children’s Bureau.
The first major effort to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families in foster care occurred in Massachusetts in 1976, when Governor Michael Dukakis announced an Adoption Week. The idea grew in popularity and spread nationwide. In 1984, President Regan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week, and in 1995, under President Clinton, the week was expanded to the entire month of November.
Designated adoption (not allowed without the assistance of an agency in all states) means that you identify the family with whom you would like to place the child and you reach an agreement. This type of adoption can be arranged as soon as you feel your ability to parent the children is becoming more than you can handle, or arranged to take place at your death or if you are incapacitated.
By planning a designated adoption, the child has the opportunity to meet the family ahead of time and build a relationship with them and, done with the help of a qualified attorney and/or agency, the transition into the new adoptive family would meet legal requirements and proceed smoothly at the time of adoption.
If you choose to arrange an adoption at an earlier time, an open adoption would give the child/children a permanent family and allow ongoing contact with you, maintaining the grandparent relationship.
