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October Is African American Adoption Awareness Month

Proclamation from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors WHEREAS. as of June 30 this year, 37 percent of the children in foster care in Fairfax County were African American, although less than 10 percent of our county's total population is African American; and WHEREAS. of the 18 children in foster care today who are waiting for adoptive homes to be identified, 6 children – one-third of the total – are African American; and WHEREAS. recent data tells us that children who age out of foster care without a permanent family are more likely to remain undereducated, become homeless or incarcerated, and have employment and health problems; and WHEREAS. significant progress has been made in recent years to reduce the total number of children in foster care, yet we continue to need adoptive families for some children, especially African American children, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County, does hereby proclaim October 2010 as African American Adoption Awareness Month in Fairfax County, and urges all residents to remember that it is never too late for a child to have a family, recognize families who have adopted African American children and further the awareness of this critical need.   Sharon Bulova, Chairman Fairfax County Board of Supervisors September 28, 2010     Nannette Bowler, DFS Director, remarks for acceptance of proclamation declaring October as African American Adoption Awareness Month in Fairfax County September 28, 2010 I am honored to accept this proclamation on behalf of the Department of Family Services and our community partners. Eighteen (18) children in our county's foster care program today need adoptive homes. Six (6) of these children are African American. While less than 10 percent of this county's population is African American, over 33 percent of the children needing adoptive families are African American. We appreciate Supervisor Hudgins' effort to bring this situation to the community's attention. I believe, as I know she does, that in a county of over a million people we should be able to find six families for six children. We need to work fast, because children are not children for long. Aging out of foster care without a permanent family places a young person at much higher risk for life difficulties, including homelessness, health problems, and incarceration. Working side by side as a community we will find families for our children. If you know of someone who wants to know more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please have them call us at 703-324-7639 and come to one of our monthly orientation meetings. Thank you.

Considering Adoption? Adoption Expo, Sat., Nov. 6, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington D.C. Adoption in Fairfax County Find out more about adoption. See pictures of some of our children available for adoption.