The state of North Carolina and Polk County has been celebrating this month annually since 1990 to remind people of the growing number of children in America’s foster care system who are available for adoption and wait for permanent families.

Polk County has long believed that all children deserve a permanent home and that is why this county has always actively encouraged people in the community to consider foster care and adoption.

Each year, more children enter the system than are adopted.

The typical child who has been freed for adoption is at least nine years old, moves three or more times in foster care, may have been separated from siblings, and will wait five years or more to be adopted.

There are currently 104,000 children in the United States with no place to call their permanent home.

These children don’t have the safety net that every child needs and deserves – a family to support them through both good and bad times, to listen and guide and to defend and celebrate.

There are currently 38 children in the legal responsibility of Polk County Department of Social Services. Nine of these children are available for adoption and are awaiting their forever family.

During National Adoption Awareness Month, let’s celebrate and increase the number of families willing to consider foster care adoption with all the unique joys of creating families through this process.

For more information, contact Polk County Department of Social Services at 828-894-2100, NC Kids at 1-877-NCKIDS-1 (1-877-625-4371) or the Dave Thomas Foundation at 1-800-ASK-DTFA (1-800-275-3832.

– article submitted by Jennifer Pittman