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The REACH
(Rural Expansion of Adoptive Communities & Homes) Project, has
launched a campaign surrounding the need for more adoptive
families for children waiting in foster care. Our theme is "give a
child roots to grow in a forever family.
If you have questions or would like to learn more
about what REACH is doing for
waiting
children, please contact Jan
Hoppe at 612-259-1608 or
jhoppe@pathinc.org.
Have you
been a parent for years and now want to expand your family
through adoption? Or would adoption make you a first-time
parent? No matter what your situation is, you will find that
being an adoptive parent is a unique experience.
For most
people, parenting an adopted child is not the same as raising
children born into their family. Adopted children have diverse
backgrounds and needs and have experienced numerous life-shaping
events, all of which add dimension to your existing family.
Adoption brings joy and excitement, but it can also introduce new
challenges.
Are you
ready to become an adoptive parent? Consider the following ...
Adoptive parents don't need to:
- Make a lot
of money.
- Own their
own home.
- Be younger
adults.
- Be
married.
- Be in
perfect health.
- Have a
certain level of education.
- Live in a
particular type of home or neighborhood.
They do need to have:
- Warm,
caring homes.
- Family
stability.
- Skills and
patience to work with children and youth with special needs.
- The
ability to accept children whose backgrounds may be much
different than their own.
- A
lifestyle with the flexibility, time and focus to enrich the
lives of children.
Successful adoptive parents are
also:
- Flexible,
adapting their parenting skills to best suit each child.
- Willing to
unconditionally commit to a child no matter what behavior that
child might ultimately exhibit. These parents claim the child as
their own, hanging in there through all the ups and downs of
family relationships.
-
Open-minded about making use of support services and assistance
if needed to meet the needs of their adopted child.
Hundreds of
Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin children are waiting in
foster care to be adopted - yours could be the family they are
waiting for.
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