The Need for Permanent Families Remains
As ADOPTION MONTH has come to a close, the need for loving, permanent families remains.
In the state of Indiana there are approximately 3,192 children who are waiting for permanent homes.
As John Piper states, “Adoption…is greater than the universe…Adoption was part of God’s plan. It was his idea, his purpose. It was not an afterthought. He didn’t discover one day that against his plan and foreknowledge humans had sinned and orphaned themselves in the world, and then come up with the idea of adopting them into his family. No, Paul says, he predestined adoption. He planned it.” (taken from John Piper’s website, www.desiringGod.org)
Is there room in your heart and family for another child? Are you feeling led by God to provide a loving, permanent home for a child with no family? Are you willing to parent a child who is not an infant but older and with special needs?
If the answer is yes to the above questions, White’s is here to help you achieve your desire.
Due to the challenges of working with children who have special needs, White’s feels it is very important to have a strong support system.
There are 3 types of adoptions which include domestic, international and special needs. White’s does not assist in domestic or international adoptions. Our area of expertise is in Special Needs adoptions. Therefore, the first step our families take towards adoption is becoming a licensed foster parent. It is preferable for a family to provide respite or short term foster care prior to adopting a child so that they experience living with a child or children with special needs.
White’s offers families the support and encouragement they need. Having a worker from White’s to rely on, especially in the first few months of placement, is vitally important.
Foster-to-adopt parents are required to complete 20 hours of pre-service training and 6 hours of adoption training prior to being approved for Special Needs Adoption. In addition, each parent is required (by the state of Indiana) to maintain their license by 20 hours of annual in-service training hours. Foster parents are required to pass background checks and to be certified in first aid and CPR. A White’s Resource Family Developer will assist a family in meeting all mandatory requirements including a written home study.
What do parents say is the joy in adoption?
- Being able to provide a child with a Christian family who loves him or her unconditionally
- Changing a child’s life with love, patience and stability
- Making a lasting difference in someone’s life
- Showing your birth children how someone can love many children/people and the satisfaction that sharing your family brings
- Giving a child a chance to see what unconditional love is and being able to help them grow into a loving, caring and responsible adult
- Helping a child feel loved, needed, wanted and better about themselves
- Helping children learn a path of hope and opportunity
- Knowing that you are keeping a child safe
- Instilling trust and confidence in a child
What does God say about adoption?
"... For in you the fatherless find compassion" Hosea 14:3
"Defend the cause of the fatherless..." Isaiah 1:17
"God places the lonely in families..." Psalm 68:6
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the father means caring for orphans..." James 1:27
"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bring us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it give him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5
Written By: Gina Cole, Adoption Program Coordinator
