The Buckeye State draws special attention to older youth in foster care that are in need of an adoptive family.
Earlier this week, Jennifer Justice (Deputy Director, Office of Families and Children, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services) sent out an important communication to all adoption-related entities in the state. We found her message to be an important one and wanted to share it with all of you:
“This year, National Adoption Month focuses on the adoption of older youth currently in foster care—because ‘We Never Outgrow the Need for Family.’ This theme calls attention to the number of older youth in foster care who need loving, safe, and permanent families.
In Ohio, 2,397 children are currently in foster care waiting to be adopted. Of those, 1,420 children are 9 years or older. The average amount of time those older kids have spent in foster care is 4 years and 9 months. Creating lifelong connections for these young people is critical in helping them prepare for successful adulthood.
I have attached Governor Kasich’s resolution recognizing November as National Adoption Recognition and Recruitment month. Thank you for all that you do to achieve permanency for Ohio’s waiting children.”
Click HERE to read Governor Kasich’s Resolution.