HARRISBURG, Penn. - With this week's observance of National Adoption Day, thousands of Pennsylvania children have an early holiday wish list -- the wish for a family. More than 3,000 children are lingering in the foster care system waiting for what Sarah Melick, an adoption specialist for Lutheran Adoption Service, calls their "forever family."
"The 16-year-old on my case load is just longing for that family, a dad to take him fishing and a mom to give him hugs. Every time you ask him 'What kind of family are you looking for?' that has been his answer for the past three years that he's been on my caseload."
Melick says it's frustrating to see many U.S. families going abroad to adopt children, while thousands here await homes. While some foster kids initially have special needs, she claims they make dramatic improvements once they're in a stable family, which is good news compared to some of the challenges in adopting from foreign countries.
"We've heard stories in the news where they just are not working out from Russia. You're dealing with kids that are pretty much left in cribs, and aren't getting that affectionate hug that they need from their parents or a caregiver."
Most of Pennsylvania's children waiting for their "forever family" are between the ages of six and 17. Another 20,000 live in foster or "out of home" care. Melick says adopting a child from the foster care system is not expensive, and families receive resources to help both the child and family make the adjustment.
"The 16-year-old on my case load is just longing for that family, a dad to take him fishing and a mom to give him hugs. Every time you ask him 'What kind of family are you looking for?' that has been his answer for the past three years that he's been on my caseload."
Melick says it's frustrating to see many U.S. families going abroad to adopt children, while thousands here await homes. While some foster kids initially have special needs, she claims they make dramatic improvements once they're in a stable family, which is good news compared to some of the challenges in adopting from foreign countries.
"We've heard stories in the news where they just are not working out from Russia. You're dealing with kids that are pretty much left in cribs, and aren't getting that affectionate hug that they need from their parents or a caregiver."
Most of Pennsylvania's children waiting for their "forever family" are between the ages of six and 17. Another 20,000 live in foster or "out of home" care. Melick says adopting a child from the foster care system is not expensive, and families receive resources to help both the child and family make the adjustment.
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