November -- National Adoption Month

NEWS RELEASE    ---     From the Office of Representative Shelley Keeney - 156^th District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	CONTACT:    Rep. Shelley Keeney
October 27, 2011	(573) 751-5912

November -- National Adoption Month

In 1976, the governor of Massachusetts announced an Adoption Week for the state.  Later that same year President Ford proclaimed that Adoption Week would be celebrated nationally. According to Child Welfare Information Gateway, President Reagan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week in 1984.  As more and more states started to participate in Adoption Week, it became clear that more time was needed for holding events and in 1995, President Clinton, proclaimed November as National Adoption Month.

National Adoption Month is a time to celebrate family and to bring about awareness that there are children in foster homes awaiting adoption.  States, communities and agencies hold events during the month to bring the need for families into public view.

Currently, thousands of children await adoption or are in foster care, looking forward to permanent homes.  These children can thrive, reach their full potential and spread their wings when given the loving and firm foundation of family.  Adoptive families come in many forms, and choose to adopt for different reasons: a desire to grow their family when conceiving a child is not possible, an expression of compassion for a child who would otherwise not have a permanent family, or simply because adoption has personally touched their lives.  For many Americans, adoption has brought boundless purpose and joy to their lives.

This year, on November 20, families, adoption advocates, policymakers, judges and volunteers will celebrate the 11th annual National Adoption Day in communities large and small.  National Adoption Day is a day of hope and happiness when courthouses finalize the adoptions of children out of foster care.

A range of services is offered for children and parents involved in the adoption process.  These include the evaluation of the child’s needs prior to placement, and arrangements for care of the child prior to the child’s adoptive placement and to the approval of the adoptive family.  Also, special activities are provided to help adoptive parents and children adjust to the new family situation.

Any family (parent at least 21 years of age) or single person (21 and over) in Missouri may be considered as a prospective adoptive family.

For information on what you can do to help the children who are waiting for a family, you may contact your local state agency at: 

Bollinger County       --        602 Highway 34 West, Marble Hill, (573) 238-2624
Madison County        --        413 Burris, Fredericktown, (573) 783-5596/7600
Wayne County           --       Route 2, Box 2635-B, Piedmont, (573) 223-4236

Please let me know if you would like to receive my weekly updates via electronic E-Mail, by sending an email with your name to: Shelley.Keeney@house.mo.gov

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns about state government.  Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-5912.  You may write me at: Shelley Keeney; Missouri House of Representatives; State Capitol -- Room 313; Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806 or email me.