Social service organization assists with adoptions

Editor's note: Some names in the story are have been changed to protect privacy.

By Chris Pagano

Southeast Missourian

On the last day of October, President Bush signed a proclamation declaring November as National Adoption Month, and Nov. 17 as National Adoption Day. Since 1990, National Adoption Month has been celebrated across the U.S. during November. President Bush and his administration are working to bind children and loving parents together through the collaboration to AdoptUsKids at adoptuskids.org and by providing states with financial assistance through the adoption incentives program.

The president asked the nation to honor adoptive and foster parents while they raise children of conviction and character.

Locally, Lutheran Family and Children's Services, a not-for-profit, statewide social service organization has an adoption program assisting families with support and resources needed to adopt a child domestically, internationally, through an independent adoption, guardianship or alternative custody arrangement.

LFCS is proud of its recent partnership with Missouri Children's Division that enables the placement of older children in foster homes as well. "It is the second year we've had a contract with the Children's Division. All families, all children, regardless of age, deserve permanent, loving, stable, forever families," said Molly Strickland, director of the Southeast Missouri office.

In 2006 LFCS provided foster care for 55 children and placed 152 into adoptive homes statewide Strickland said. Offices are also in Springfield, Columbia and St. Louis.

Adoption helps to provide a bridge to parenting for those who are physically unable.

Local adoptive parents Jay and Caryn were devastated when they were unable to have children -- a lifetime desire for both.

When asked to share their experience, they wrote: "Through adoption we were able to enlarge our family and share our love in a new and expanded manner. Our first son was placed with us at the age of four days through an independent adoption."

Like many new parents, Jay and Caryn were nervous, but they "experienced one of God's greatest gifts to us. Yes, our lives changed dramatically, but in a good way. We learned to share and grow in our love for each other in so many ways. We were happy, proud and content, but still wanted to enlarge our new family."

Jay and Caryn's second son was placed with their family by LFCS when he was 4 months old. "Again, our lives were changed and many new experiences were shaping us in different ways," they wrote.

"Through the blessing of adoption our lives forever changed, but it helped us become the loving family we are today. We have faced many ordinary trials of any family, but our love for each other helped us to grow stronger together. It is impossible to imagine life without our boys. They are the very fabric of our family unit. Unless disclosed, people would not realize they are adopted.

"Through adoption we realized family is not a product of DNA but rather a product of love and dealing with life's experiences," they wrote.

Opportunities are available for single, married or divorced people. A safe environment and adequate space for a child to grow and develop are required, but you do not have to own your own home. Potential adoptive parents can have other children. A stable source of income that allows you to live independently and afford to raise children is necessary. It is important to provide a child with a sense of ethnic and cultural identity.

Adoption fees are on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay and may be reduced in accordance with economic circumstances.

The adoption process starts with an application followed by an assessment process with a social worker, called a homestudy. The homestudy, required by the state, generally takes about two to three months to complete and requires a police record check, physical examination, personal references and child abuse and neglect screening. A series of family meetings and a visit to your home are also part of the process. The waiting period for a child differs by program.

Support continues through quarterly visits until the adoption is finalized, once the child is in your home. Missouri law requires the child be in the adoptive parents' custody for six months before the adoption becomes final.

There are 126,000 children in the U.S. waiting to be adopted.

Strickland, who has been with LFCS for more than 20 years, has served as a foster parent, provided a care home for birth parents considering adoption and provided counseling to birth parents and adoptive families. For the past decade she has led and organized an adoptive parent group. She is available to speak about the adoption process and share personal stories about families that have been formed through adoption.

An informational meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the LFCS office at 2911 Breckenridge Drive in Cape Girardeau. Call 334-5866 for more information or to register attendance at the meeting.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133