Dear Friends,
Every child has an innate need and desire to be loved, nurtured and protected, and to have that safe place to belong. But some are missing those important elements of childhood, especially those who, due to no fault of their own, have been abused, abandoned or neglected by the very persons intended to love and care for them. During National Adoption Awareness month, it is only fitting to recognize and honor those outstanding individuals and families in our community who have stepped up on behalf of vulnerable children and opened their hearts and homes to them.
When a child or sibling group is placed with a “forever family” they are afforded the opportunity to heal, bond and find their purpose and meaning in life. And they receive the love and support we all need and desire in order to thrive and reach our potential.
According to the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau in Washington, D.C. in 2013, 25% percent of all children in care in the U.S. (102,000) were awaiting adoption. Of those, 51,000 found their forever family. In Brevard, 67 children are currently available for adoption; 42 have identified placements and 25 are still in need of a family. It’s our goal to ensure that all of these children, along with any others needing one, have a family by our fiscal year’s end in June 2015.
Since 2005, Brevard Family Partnership, teaming with our adoption partner IMPOWER, has facilitated 688 adoptions in Brevard County. This reflects 688 individual children whose lives have been changed forever because a loving family has chosen them to become a permanent member of theirs. This is equal to the entire student population at one of our county’s elementary schools.
For us, there is no greater reward for the work we do than to see the joy on the faces of these children and their new families on the day of their adoption.
For more information about becoming an adoptive family in Brevard, please visit www.heartgallerybrevard.com or call us at (321) 752-4650.
Sincerely,
Patricia
