Help raise awareness about adoption, families

November is National Adoption Month, a time to raise awareness about children waiting to be adopted and to celebrate adoptive families. More than 107,000 children in U.S. foster care are waiting to be adopted by a forever family. These children sometimes wait as long as five years to be adopted, which can seem a lifetime to a child.

Adoption changes children's lives by giving them the chance to change their future. Through adoption, these children gain forever families who offer them love and support. Further, these children are given permanency, which is crucial in their young lives.

To meet some of Iowa's children waiting to be adopted or to gain more information about becoming a foster or adoptive parent in Iowa, visit www.iowakidsnet.com.

If you are unsure about committing to becoming a foster or adoptive family, there are many other ways you can help, such as: Ask your faith community to dedicate a weekend to raising awareness about Iowa children in foster care, volunteer at a local agency that works with youth in foster care and supports foster families, and work with your community to support families who need assistance and mentoring.

Lana Kelsey,

Post-Adoption

Support Specialist

Iowa KidsNet

Cedar Rapids