Randy Parker, executive director of Richland County (Ohio) Children Services says he'd like to see more local couples consider domestic adoption before looking internationally. With all the recent attention surrounding international adoptions by people like Angelina Jolie, domestic adoption has taken a back seat.

"'Anytime you can give a child a better life, I'm all for that,' [Roy] Shoulders said. 'I'm not opposed to international adoptions; I don't have any qualms with it. But because of the need in this country, I would love for us to take care of our own first.'"

Parker says there are currently 18 youngsters in Richland County that need an adoptive family. Roy Shoulders was adopted by a local family when he was just three weeks old. He's now the boys' basketball coach at St. Peter's high school in Mansfield, Ohio. Read more at MansfieldNewsJournal.com.
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070624/NEWS01/706240317/1002

Labels: awareness, domestic_adoptions, international