The Skies are Starting to Clear
In 2008 and 2009, Adoption Associates and many other adoption agencies were hard hit by the economic realities of the time. Last year more than 80 agencies had to close their doors, which stalled or ended some families’ dreams of adoption. Fortunately, AAI has been able to continue our important work of creating forever homes for 207 children in 2009, and for 141 children who have already been placed in 2010.
While AAI, along with the rest of the nation, is still in recovery mode, we see many reasons for optimism. More families are attending our information meetings, and sign-ups for our programs are once again steadily on the rise. Our outreach to birth mother referral sources is beginning to bear fruit; we’re seeing more referrals, and more women with unplanned pregnancies are considering adoption. Despite the fact that Russian adoptions to the U.S. were jeopardized in April, when an adoptive mother in Tennessee (not an AAI client) returned her unaccompanied son to Russia, it seems that the tragedy will have a positive outcome in the long run and the process will be smoother because of it. Our Russia program, one of the oldest international programs AAI offers, has placed 866 children since 1994, and we look forward to placing many more of these beautiful children in the future.
It isn’t always easy to remain upbeat in difficult times, but there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful. And while adoption is rarely the “easy road” for any family, there is a hopefulness that comes from adopting a child, particularly a child who would have no future without a nurturing, loving family.
There will never be a better time to adopt. We’re looking for people who have a heart for adoption to push the door open a little wider and step into the process. Families are sorely needed for older children; for children from Ethiopia, China and Russia; and for African-American children. These children carry the future with them, and you can be a part of that future. Together we can move forward in hope.
Best Wishes,
