Jackie Semar has been interested in adoption for almost 30 years. She's now the executive director for the International Child Foundation, an organization that advocates for international adoption and child welfare in developing countries.

"[Jackie] helped found the International Child Foundation in 2003. The non-profit group facilitates about 20 international adoptions a year of children from countries including Haiti, Guatemala, China, and Khazakstan."

The organization also provides financial support to Haitian orphanages. The money subsidizes nutrition and ensures that the children get enough to eat. Source: Arizona Daily Star

Labels: advocacy, international, non-profit

It's a common problem in every state; foster care kids who age out of the system without being adopted. Last week, an adoption coalition met in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to try and find solutions.

"A recent study by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families found that over the past five years, nearly 1,000 children in foster care aged out without ever having been adopted... Aged out foster kids often don't complete high school and face increased risks of becoming young parents, being homeless and criminal activities."

The best solution, of course, is adoption. Though most states provide some assistance for kids who age out of foster care, the assistance typically ends with the person turns 21. Source: KAIT Television, Jonesboro, Arkansas

Programs for troubled teens, like the one offered at Turn-About Ranch, can help teenagers and their families get past old hurts and move toward successful and healthy relationships.

Labels: advocacy, foster_care, homelessness

Julie and Dana Cadman have three children, all of whom were adopted from Russia. The joy they've experienced from adoption has caused them to form the Cadman Foundation, which helps families raise the money needed for adoption.

"The Cadman Foundation aids adoptions by providing grants to families who are raising funds for the opportunity. With domestic or international adoptions costing up to $40,000, the Cadmans know many families can't pursue a child without incurring major debt."

To date, the Cadman Foundation has provided $20,000 in grants to six families who have adopted internationally. Source: Observe & Eccentric Newspapers, Rochester Hills, Michigan

Labels: advocacy, financial_assistance, Russia

Monday, November 19th is National Adoption Day; a day specially designated to raise awareness about the more than 114,000 children who reside in the foster care system, several hundred of which are available for adoption every year.

"For the last eight years, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in state protective custody."

This will be only the second year that National Adoption Day is celebrated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Last year, more than 250 events were planned and over 3,300 adoptions were finalized.

Programs for troubled teens can help families in crisis. Find one today at 4TroubledTeens.com.

Labels: advocacy, awareness, foster_care

A Minnesota based youth advocacy team helped lead a day-long retreat in Eau Claire designed to empower local fostered and adopted youth to speak out and make their voices heard. Read more online.

Labels: advocacy, foster_care, retreat

Older children who have been in foster care often are overlooked by those considering adoption, but a display by the Adoption Coalition of Texas showcasing photographs of children in need of a permanent home is intended to help change that. Learn more online.

Labels: adoptive_families, advocacy, teens