http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=common&story=thisweeknews
/081904/gcr/News/081904-News-447505.html

Adoption of 'special needs' children encouraged

Thursday, August 19, 2004

Deborah Pryce


When many of us turned 18, we had parents who helped us fill out our college
applications, move us into our dorms, and sent us much anticipated care
packages to share with our new friends.

When others of us turned 18, we moved out of our parent's homes to rent our own
apartments and start work.

If we lived close enough, we had dinner with them once a week, or if we lived
far away we'd run up the phone bills. And, we could usually count on them when
our budgets got a little tight at the end of the month.

But what if when you turned 18, you had no family to turn to?

That's a question nearly 19,000 children will have to answer this year, as they
"age out" of the adoption system in the United States.

Adoption is an issue that people are willing to talk about, but when it comes
to getting personally involved, many back away.

According to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, based right here in
central Ohio, 63 percent of Americans have a "favorable opinion" of adoption,
and 78 percent think more should be done to encourage adoption. But acting on
those feelings tends to be more difficult.

The typical reaction is that "someone else will do it." Unfortunately for the
130,000 children across the country currently in foster care, that is not the
case. Though there are millions of suitable parents, many do not engage in the
adoptive process for fear they are not up to the task of parenting an adoptive
child or because they think adoption is a costly and unmanageable process.

I have firsthand experience that proves otherwise.

As an adoptive parent of two little girls, I have personally felt the
unspeakable joy that comes from welcoming a child into your home and family.

The knowledge that you are giving hope and opportunity to a boy or girl who
might otherwise have none is inspiring and uplifting.

Through the good times and bad, I would never trade my adoptive experience. It
is a part of my life, and that's why I am working in congress to promote the
issue of adoption.

Recently, I spearheaded an initiative to provide a $10,000 tax credit for
families who adopt a child. My colleagues in Congress approved that initiative.
Other resources and support are available for adoptive parents, including
training, incentives, and Medicaid.

But we still have more work to do. In July, the Department of Health and Human
Services launched the first-ever national public service campaign to encourage
adoption. This new initiative, produced in conjunction with the Ad Council and
the Adoption Exchange Association, will highlight older "special needs"
children who need permanent homes. "Special needs" means they are children who,
for various reasons, have a harder time finding families willing to adopt them.


Often, special needs include factors such as physical or health problems and
ethnic or racial background. Other times, a group of siblings needs to be
adopted together. Fifty-three percent of foster children are between the ages
of 8-17, and the need to connect these youth with permanent families is
significant.

You do not have to be rich, married, highly educated or a homeowner to adopt a
child. Children don't need perfect parents, just individuals who are willing to
open their hearts and homes and make a life-long commitment to love and nurture
a child.

If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities, please visit
www.adoptuskids.org or call toll-free 1-888-200-4005.



-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown

Or you can end up in an orphanage in Nigeria.

And the adoptive Mom still collects the cash for safely caring for these
unfortunate children, even when they headed for perhaps international slavery.

Now DFPS will pay for their rehab from typhoid, malaria, malnutrition, travel
expenses.

Another exemplary CPS-based adoption of special needs children.

Lil found, thanks:
Subject: Adoption of 'special needs' children encouragedFrom: lilmtncbn@aol.com (LilMtnCbn)Date: 8/20/2004 8:52 AM Eastern Daylight TimeMessage-id: <20040820085215.23133.00003608@mb-m07.aol.com>http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=common&story=thisweeknews/081904/gcr/News/081904-News-447505.htmlAdoption of 'special needs' children encouragedThursday, August 19, 2004Deborah PryceWhen many of us turned 18, we had parents who helped us fill out our collegeapplications, move us into our dorms, and sent us much anticipated carepackages to share with our new friends.When others of us turned 18, we moved out of our parent's homes to rent ourownapartments and start work.If we lived close enough, we had dinner with them once a week, or if we livedfar away we'd run up the phone bills. And, we could usually count on themwhenour budgets got a little tight at the end of the month.But what if when you turned 18, you had no family to turn to?That's a question nearly 19,000 children will have to answer this year, asthey"age out" of the adoption system in the United States.Adoption is an issue that people are willing to talk about, but when it comesto getting personally involved, many back away.According to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, based right here incentral Ohio, 63 percent of Americans have a "favorable opinion" of adoption,and 78 percent think more should be done to encourage adoption. But acting onthose feelings tends to be more difficult.The typical reaction is that "someone else will do it." Unfortunately for the130,000 children across the country currently in foster care, that is not thecase. Though there are millions of suitable parents, many do not engage intheadoptive process for fear they are not up to the task of parenting anadoptivechild or because they think adoption is a costly and unmanageable process.I have firsthand experience that proves otherwise.As an adoptive parent of two little girls, I have personally felt theunspeakable joy that comes from welcoming a child into your home and family.The knowledge that you are giving hope and opportunity to a boy or girl whomight otherwise have none is inspiring and uplifting.Through the good times and bad, I would never trade my adoptive experience.Itis a part of my life, and that's why I am working in congress to promote theissue of adoption.Recently, I spearheaded an initiative to provide a $10,000 tax credit forfamilies who adopt a child. My colleagues in Congress approved thatinitiative.Other resources and support are available for adoptive parents, includingtraining, incentives, and Medicaid.But we still have more work to do. In July, the Department of Health andHumanServices launched the first-ever national public service campaign toencourageadoption. This new initiative, produced in conjunction with the Ad Councilandthe Adoption Exchange Association, will highlight older "special needs"children who need permanent homes. "Special needs" means they are childrenwho,for various reasons, have a harder time finding families willing to adoptthem.Often, special needs include factors such as physical or health problems andethnic or racial background. Other times, a group of siblings needs to beadopted together. Fifty-three percent of foster children are between the agesof 8-17, and the need to connect these youth with permanent families issignificant.You do not have to be rich, married, highly educated or a homeowner to adoptachild. Children don't need perfect parents, just individuals who are willingtoopen their hearts and homes and make a life-long commitment to love andnurturea child.If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities, pleasevisitwww.adoptuskids.org or call toll-free 1-888-200-4005.-------------------------A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friendwillbe sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"-----Unknown