During National Adoption Month in November, KVC Health Systems’ nationwide teams are helping to facilitate over 60 children’s adoptions in Nebraska, Kansas, Kentucky and West Virginia. Many adoptions will take place on November 23, National Adoption Day, a special Saturday when courthouses open so families can finalize their adoptions and grow in love.

Over 123,000 children and teens urgently need loving, adoptive families in the United States. These children have experienced abuse, neglect, or other serious family challenges and many are at risk of aging out of foster care without a permanent, forever family.

Foster-to-Adopt

Currently, 913 Nebraska children and teens are waiting for adoptive, forever families.

Interested in adopting in Nebraska? We can help! Through our foster-to-adopt program, you will complete training to become a licensed foster parent and begin providing stability and care to children during one of the most stressful times in their lives. KVC Nebraska will be there to help you through the licensing process and provides 24/7 support, advice and crisis intervention.

By becoming a foster parent, you are providing a home, love, and support to a child or teen when they are not able to live with their biological parents or other natural caregivers. Our child welfare professionals work to find the best placement option for youth until they can safely return home, or if they are unable to return home, they help them find a loving forever family.

Want more information? Find out if foster parenting is right for you and check out more free resources here.

Meet the Children Waiting for Families

The theme of this year’s National Adoption Month is “Youth Voices: Why Family Matters,” highlighting how important adoption is for teens. Approximately one in five children in U.S. foster care waiting to be adopted is a teen, but only 5% of all children adopted in 2017 were 15-18 years old.

Teens don’t outgrow the need for a loving family, and more than 17,000 teens will age out of foster care without finding an adoptive family. They won’t have anyone to call about a flat tire, job interviews, first dates and so much more. When adopting a teen from foster care, you impact their life in a big, meaningful way. They also impact your life—helping you grow as a person and a parent in unexpected ways.

Teens that age out of foster care are at risk for homelessness, young parenthood, low educational attainment and other adverse outcomes. Watch this emotional video about a teen adopted from foster care and see the positive impact you can create.

View profiles of Nebraska children who need to be adopted at www.nebraskaheartgallery.org. The profiles include photos and bios.

According to the most recent AFCARS report, of the 123,000 children and youth waiting to be adopted:

• 52% are male and 48% are female
• 22% are African American, 22% are Hispanic, and 44% are white
• The average age is eight years old
• 11% are between 15 and 17 years old
• Average time in foster care is 31 months

National Adoption Month Courthouse Celebrations

OMAHA, NE – 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23
Douglas-Omaha Civic Center
1819 Farnam St., Ohama, NE 68183

NORFOLK, NE – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23
Norfolk YMCA
301 W. Benjamin Ave., Norfolk, NE 68701

KVC Nebraska adoptions are done in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. KVC Health Systems’ teams have facilitated 5,321 children’s adoptions in the agency’s history and facilitate 500+ children’s adoptions each year.