SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Nov. 20, National Adoption Day, the lives of thousands of American children will be forever changed as courts across the country open their doors and finalize adoptions for children currently in foster care. National Adoption Day, a part of National Adoption Month, brings together adoption advocates, policymakers, judges and volunteers in celebration of adoption in communities large and small across the nation.
Now in its 11th year, National Adoption Day has resulted in finalized adoptions for more than 30,000 children in the United States and this year, the National Adoption Day Coalition expects 4,500 foster care children to be adopted.
The need for new adoptive families in the U.S. is growing. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that of the 463,000 children in the U.S. foster care system, 114,000 of them are in need of an adoptive family. Sadly, more children become available for adoption each year than are adopted. In 2009, 69,947 children had parental rights terminated by the courts, yet only 57,466 were adopted.
Many children in foster homes who need adoptive families will wait two or more years to become a part of a permanent family. In addition, more than 29,000 U.S. children will reach age 18 without ever being adopted.
"National Adoption Month helps bring greater awareness to the growing need for more adoptive families," said Nancy Born, Adoption Program director. "Every child deserves the right to a loving, secure and permanent home to call their own. The need is particularly great for older children, teenagers, youths with special needs and sibling sets."
For 35 years, Aspiranet has worked to ensure that California children are placed in permanent, loving homes - touching the lives of more than 10,000 families. The organization provides adoption services at offices in the following 14 counties: Fresno, Kern, Tulare, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Monterey and Ventura and takes collective action to support communities and families as they love and care for children.
To learn more about adopting a child, please call (877) 380-HERO or visit the website at: www.aspiranetheroes.org.
About Aspiranet
Aspiranet, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity, supports foster children, siblings, families, and the community with 35 core programs offering specialized services through 44 satellite centers within California.
Aspiranet's vision of bringing families together and helping foster children, siblings, and parents thrive is realized through more than 35 core programs and services in six areas of expertise – Family Services, Foster Care, Adoption, Education, Afterschool programs, and Community Partnerships.