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Celebrating National Adoption Month and Helping A Child Find a Forever Home
By
Judge Gregory G. Gordon
“Adopting one child won’t change the world. But for that child, the world will change.” -Unknown
November is National Adoption Month. It is a month for all of us to be intentional about lifting the voices and focusing on the needs of children in search of their forever. There are over 114,000 children and teens waiting to be adopted nationwide. These children are suffering from a lack of permanency and often a lack of identity. They are children who typically feel silenced, unseen, and unloved. Nearly a quarter of all children waiting to be adopted are teens. The average time for a child in care waiting to be adopted is 34 months. The time in care is longer for minority children.
The Nevada statistics are just as sobering. In 2022, in Nevada, there were approximately 4,183 children in foster care of which 1,606 were waiting to be adopted.
For me, celebrating National Adoption Month has special meaning as my amazing wife, Danielle, to whom I have been married for 24 years, was lovingly adopted shortly after birth. For Danielle, being an adoptee felt special because she felt chosen. Growing up in a home where adoption was discussed openly, Danielle knew from an early age what adoption was, why it was important in her family’s life, and that it was something she should never be ashamed to share. Adoption changed the trajectory of her life and will have a generational impact on our family.
Helping a child find their forever through adoption is a rewarding way to grow your family, while empowering that child or teen to reach their full potential. You do not need to own your own home, have children already, or be young, wealthy, or a stay-at-home parent to adopt or foster. Although eligibility requirements vary by state, in most instances, marital status, age, income, and sexual orientation will not disqualify someone from being a foster parent or adopting a child from foster care.
Characteristics needed to be a good foster or adoptive parent include:
- Being stable, mature, dependable, and flexible
- Having the ability to advocate for children
- Being a team player with your family or child welfare worker
In Nevada, the foster and adopting licensing requirements are:
- You must have sufficient income to cover your financial needs
- You must be able to provide a loving, supportive environment for children
- You must be 21 years of age (for adoption you must also be 10 years older than the child)
- You may be single, a same-sex couple, married, divorced, or widowed
- You must be of good character
- You must attend approximately 30 hours of pre-service training.
There is no time like the present to help children in Nevada awaiting adoption. Even if adoption is not an option, there are many ways to get involved both this month and throughout the year:
Become a CASA Volunteer: CASA volunteers are everyday people from the community who are trained and appointed to advocate for a child’s best interest in court. They work collaboratively with the professionals on the child’s case, including the caseworker, attorneys, and others. Volunteering as a CASA is an incredible way to give back and have an immediate, meaningful impact on a child’s life.
Consider Fostering: Nevada is always in need of more families to open their homes for children in state care. Visit DCFS’s website to learn more and start the process.
Spread Awareness: Simply having conversations with those in your personal and professional spheres about children and families in the foster care system may encourage others to learn more and get involved.
Donate: As a statewide organization, NVCASA.org empowers volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in Nevada. The organization is dedicated to improving Nevada’s child welfare system. Every donation counts.
Adoptive families come in all forms. With so many children waiting for loving homes, the time to act is now. All children should grow up feeling the warmth, security, and unconditional love that a family can provide. National Adoption Month is a time to rededicate ourselves to the goal of providing permanency for every child.
November is already the time of year to celebrate and give thanks. It is an opportunity to reflect on what we are thankful for in our professional and personal lives. This November, I challenge every one of you to extend that gratitude into action on behalf of the children and teens in our community who need our help. In honor of my wife and the family that chose her, please join me this month by spreading awareness and doing what you can to improve the lives of children waiting to find their forever.
For more information about what you can do to help children in the child welfare system in Clark County, call DFS at 702-455-0181 or visit clarkcountyfostercare.com. To consider becoming a CASA volunteer, call 702-455-2272 (CASA) or visit CASALasVegas.org
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