WHEREAS, over 66,000 children were adopted across the United States in 2019, leaving more than 122,200 children waiting for adoption; and
WHEREAS, over 700 foster children in the Commonwealth of Virginia are waiting for adoptive families; and
WHEREAS, 30% of the children waiting in Virginia and 75% of children waiting in Fairfax County are over the age of 13; and
WHEREAS, youth leaving foster care without a permanent connection face challenges with employment, education, and mental health; and
WHEREAS, during Adoption Awareness Month, we celebrate all the families who have opened their homes to children through adoption; there were 41 children and youth adopted from foster care last year in Fairfax County; and
WHEREAS, we also recognize those children and youth still waiting to join an adoptive family and find their permanent connection; there are currently six children in foster care in Fairfax County waiting to find their adoptive families; and
WHEREAS, every child in Fairfax County, regardless of physical, medical or emotional challenges, age, race, or sexual orientation, needs love, support, security, and a place to call home; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Family Services is committed to supporting children in foster care waiting for adoption and supporting adoptive families through education, services, and support; NOW THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on behalf of all the residents of Fairfax County, does hereby proclaim the month of November 2020 as
ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH
in Fairfax County, and urges all residents to support our children in any way they are able – whether by opening their hearts and homes through adoption, becoming foster parents, or by supporting adoptive and foster parents in our community.
Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
November 17, 2020
(Note: This photo was taken at the 2019 proclamation.)
