Nohe: Make a difference, adopt a child

November is National Adoption Awareness Month.   In Virginia, foster care adoption has been a priority of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s administration. In May, from the front steps of the Executive Mansion, McDonnell announced “Virginia Adopts: Campaign for 1,000.” The goal of the initiative was simple -- to match 1,000 children in Virginia’s foster care system with permanent families.   

During this past legislative session McDonnell and the Virginia General Assembly appropriated $1.5 million in new funding dedicated to recruiting families and aimed at post adoption services.  Additionally, the campaign launched a social media strategy, hosted workshops to educate the public and attracted media interest in every major market across the Commonwealth. 

To date, more than 880 children who were eligible for adoption have been either adopted or matched to families knowledgeable of the child’s needs and committed to follow through to adopt.  Included in this number are 16 of the 20 longest waiting youth, one of which was in the foster care system for 16 years and was waiting for an adoptive family for the past 14 years.  This is great progress and speaks to the success of the governor’s campaign which has brought a new spotlight to the issue of foster care adoption.  Going forward, we must maintain the commitment McDonnell has made to our foster care children. 

In Virginia, a child becomes eligible for adoption in our foster care system each day.  Children who age out of the foster care system without being adopted do not have a family to go home to for Thanksgiving, no one to walk them down the aisle, or to be there for them when they have families of their own. 

You can provide that family.  If you are interested in adopting out of Virginia’s Foster Care System, please visit VirginiaAdopts.Virginia.Gov or call Virginia’s Adoption Hotline at 800-DO-ADOPT.  You have the opportunity to make a difference in the life of one of these children. There is no better time than now.

Marty Nohe is a member of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and serves on Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Statewide Steering Committee for the Virginia Adopts: Campaign for 1000. He and his wife, Kristina, are adoptive parents.