York Town News
November is National Adoption Awareness Month
By Larry Favinger
AUGUSTA - The Children's Museum of Maine will be transformed on Nov. 13 into the Cumberland County Probate Court, where adoptions will be legalized and families will celebrate as a highlight of National Adoption Awareness Month.National Adoption Awareness Month is a collective effort to raise awareness of the 118,000 children in the country in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. Another highlight of the month is National Adoption Day, which is held annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Last year, more than 3,300 adoptions took place across the nation during November.
"National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true," said Brenda Harvey, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. "By working with courts, judges, attorneys and advocates, we've been able to find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care and finalize their adoptions."
James Beougher, director of the DHHS Office of Child and Family Services, said Maine has participated in this event for the last three years.
"In November of 2005, we were thrilled to see 42 adoptions being finalized for children in foster care. Fourteen of those adoptions took place at the Children's Museum in what was a fun, rewarding and exciting day," Beougher said.
Along with the event scheduled for Nov. 13, several others are planned throughout the month to celebrate families created through adoption. The activities also highlight the need for families who can open their hearts to children from the foster care system.
"The need is particularly great for older youth," Beougher said. "They've told us how meaningful a family of their own would be to them."
