Nov. 21, 2009
Rockefeller Highlights Importance of Adoption on 10th Anniversary of National Adoption Day
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, DC (HNN) – Senator Jay Rockefeller on Friday, Nov. 20 highlighted the 10th anniversary of National Adoption Day, which is being observed on Saturday, November 21.
“On this 10th anniversary of National Adoption Day, I’d like to celebrate and thank the families who have already made the choice to provide a safe and loving home to a child in need,” Rockefeller, D-WV, said. “Every West Virginia child deserves consistent love and a secure environment where they can live, grow and flourish. I’m incredibly grateful to all of the devoted West Virginians who have made these precious children part of their families.”
Over the years, progress has been made, and since the 1997 Adoption and Safe Family Act, adoptions from foster care have doubled. But with over 100,000 children still in foster care and waiting to be adopted, Rockefeller believes there is more to do.
“We have made so much progress, but I will never stop fighting for the children who still do not have permanent homes and for the programs that enable them to find the homes they need and deserve. We must continue to monitor and make our national adoption laws better – because all children deserve the very best.”
Background:
Rockefeller is a long-time supporter of adoption and permanency for children. He led the charge more than 10 years ago to pass key federal adoption incentives through the Adoption and Safe Families Act.
In 1997, before the Adoption and Safe Family Act was fully implemented, West Virginia placed approximately 200 kids. In recent years West Virginia has been able to place more than 500 children per year. Since the passage of the Act, more than 4,500 West Virginia children have moved from foster care to permanent homes.
Last year, legislation championed by Rockefeller to reauthorize adoption incentives and to update state incentives to encourage permanency for children in foster care through adoption or guardianship was signed into law. The law promotes relatives as guardians as long as they pass the same safety standards as foster parents, and eases the transition of 18-year-olds out of foster care.
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Rockefeller Highlights Importance of Adoption on 10th Anniversary of National Adoption Day
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, DC (HNN) – Senator Jay Rockefeller on Friday, Nov. 20 highlighted the 10th anniversary of National Adoption Day, which is being observed on Saturday, November 21.
“On this 10th anniversary of National Adoption Day, I’d like to celebrate and thank the families who have already made the choice to provide a safe and loving home to a child in need,” Rockefeller, D-WV, said. “Every West Virginia child deserves consistent love and a secure environment where they can live, grow and flourish. I’m incredibly grateful to all of the devoted West Virginians who have made these precious children part of their families.”
Over the years, progress has been made, and since the 1997 Adoption and Safe Family Act, adoptions from foster care have doubled. But with over 100,000 children still in foster care and waiting to be adopted, Rockefeller believes there is more to do.
“We have made so much progress, but I will never stop fighting for the children who still do not have permanent homes and for the programs that enable them to find the homes they need and deserve. We must continue to monitor and make our national adoption laws better – because all children deserve the very best.”
Background:
Rockefeller is a long-time supporter of adoption and permanency for children. He led the charge more than 10 years ago to pass key federal adoption incentives through the Adoption and Safe Families Act.
In 1997, before the Adoption and Safe Family Act was fully implemented, West Virginia placed approximately 200 kids. In recent years West Virginia has been able to place more than 500 children per year. Since the passage of the Act, more than 4,500 West Virginia children have moved from foster care to permanent homes.
Last year, legislation championed by Rockefeller to reauthorize adoption incentives and to update state incentives to encourage permanency for children in foster care through adoption or guardianship was signed into law. The law promotes relatives as guardians as long as they pass the same safety standards as foster parents, and eases the transition of 18-year-olds out of foster care.
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