If you are anything like me, sometimes the comment section on social media is more entertaining than the original post or article. The comment section is like the newest version of a “letter to the editor” where you’ll find the opinion of virtually anyone who took time to press “send.”
Recently, there was a news post regarding a toddler found wandering the streets. He was discovered by a neighbor and turned over to the local police. Not knowing who he was, the police department posted his photo and a request that anyone with information on his identity contact them. I knew what I was going to find in the comment section because I’d seen it before: literally tons of commenters offering to raise the child and/or adopt him. This happens each time there is a news article about child endangerment or abandonment. There are also many comments along the lines of, “I would love to adopt, but it’s too expensive.”
While it’s a wonderful gesture, offering to help a child in a news story, there is a far greater need in America beyond the one or two stories that actually get picked up by the nightly news.
THE TRUTH?
There are THOUSANDS of children in America who are legally free for adoption right now and their adoptions are virtually FREE. Through foster care, some children are unable to reunify with their birth family for one reason or another and are deemed “legally free” to adopt. This simply means that parental rights have already been terminated in the court process and the child is waiting for an adoptive home.
U.S. children waiting for an adoptive home NOW:
Take a look at this link to view the hundreds of children legally free for adoption in your state or neighboring state right now. You’ll find both single children and sibling groups.
https://www.adoptuskids.org/meet-the-children/search-for-children/state-photolists
Adoption IS (essentially) free
More good news for those concerned about cost. Adopting children from the U.S. foster system, such as these, is practically free and open to both married and unmarried individuals. The state pays most of the costs as the state is their legal guardian. Plus, children adopted from foster care may be eligible to receive additional financial assistance which may include Medicaid.
Becoming an adoptive parent is very much a reality if you are willing to consider the incredible children legally free in our U.S. foster care system. We encourage you to start the process!
