Adoption and CarePortal: What’s the connection?
We recently explained that every time you respond to a request on behalf of a child in your community through CarePortal, your response is intended to accomplish one of 10 purposes. Today, on National Adoption Day, we want to talk about two of them:
6. Help make an adoptive placement
7. Help preserve an adoptive placement
At The Global Orphan Project*, we first want to acknowledge both the beauty and the brokenness that’s part of every adoptive journey. No story lacks complexity, and the stories you are invited into through CarePortal will always reflect that. Our hope and prayer for you whenever a CarePortal connection leads your church to serve a child or family at some point in the adoptive process — perhaps to meet one need at just the right time or possibly to begin a lasting relationship — is that you would do so with grace, humility and an open mind and heart.
“More than 100,000 children and youth in foster care are waiting to be adopted.”
— AdoptUSKids
The following are just a few of the requests this community has responded to in order to help make or preserve an adoptive placement within the U.S. child welfare system:
Pima County, Arizona
Request Purpose: Help make an adoptive placement
“This little girl is 8 years old and recently placed with relatives. The family is planning to adopt her, but only has one source of income. Given their limited income, the relatives cannot afford to buy a bed and dresser for the girl, at this time. In order to provide a place to store her clean clothes, and an appropriate sleeping space, the family needs: 1 twin bed with mattress and bedding, 1 dresser or cubbie set with drawers.”
Cherokee County, Oklahoma
Request Purpose: Help Preserve an Adoptive Placement
“This family recently adopted two teenagers who were in custody for over three years. They are in the process of attempting to adopt four more children in order to keep the siblings together. One child they are caring for is a special needs teenager that requires full time care. The family home caught fire this morning and is a total loss. The children escaped the fire unharmed but the family has lost everything. The family does have home insurance, but it will take time to rebuild their life. The children have immediate needs of basic hygiene items and clothing (coats, underwear, socks, etc). We are asking for gift cards to help the family purchase these items.”
Caseworker update: “This family got amazing responses from the churches and community members. Everyone involved was helpful and caring. This family got amazing responses from the churches and community members. These donations ensured the children had food on the table, clothing, underwear, and hygiene items after a devastating fire. This family has felt so supported and appreciated by the outpouring of prayers and donations they have got from the community. They have felt truly blessed to have a community that loves them and the children they care for.”
Flathead County, Montana
Request Purpose: Help preserve an adoptive placement
“Female child is 11 years old with a history of physical neglect and abuse. Her behaviors have begun to escalate to a level of aggressiveness with the pre-adoptive mother, and sister. The pre-adoptive mother would like to have the child seen at a clinic on September 15, for brain mapping which determines what age, and what area of the brain has been negatively impacted by trauma experiences. Brain mapping will help pre-adoptive mother better understand the needs of the child, and get the child the appropriate care, and services needed to assist her with healing, and re-structuring her brain. Medicaid does not cover the full cost of brain mapping. The estimated out of pocket cost insurance will not cover will be $300.00.
The child this will serve deserves the appropriate treatment to help her through the trauma she experienced. We are very hopeful this process will preserve the permanent placement, and keep the child in a forever home.”
Pima County, Arizona
Request Purpose: Help make an adoptive placement
“Grandfather adopting his 10-year-old and 3-year-old grandkids can use some support with items they need. Would you be able to help bless them? Needs: Bunk beds and dining room table and chairs.”
Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Request Purpose: Help make an adoptive placement
“The need is for assistance with funds for a tag, tax and title for relative foster parents that are in process of adopting twins. The family had a car wreck that was no fault of theirs and the person that hit them had no insurance. These relative foster parents have a very tight budget and they have to transport the boys to therapy weekly and to doctor appointments. Any contribution from several sources add up to assist the family.”
Caseworker update: “This was an incredible blessing for the family and the children. When I see foster families giving their all for the children, and they hit a snag, I worry and stress about the problem with them. Having a resource with CarePortal has been a blessing not only to the family but to me.”
These are just a few of the stories we’ve already heard, and there are so many in front of us — maybe you will be part of them.
Today, on National Adoption Day, our hearts and prayers are turned toward every child and family whose story has been touched by adoption.
To every parent who has stepped into the beauty and brokenness of foster care, to the child welfare professionals serving so faithfully, and to those responding to God’s call to take one small step further into the foster care world — thank you. It is our privilege to witness God at work through you. Finally, to the biological families walking through hardship and grief, and every child working their way through their own journey of grief, loss and holding onto hope — we see you, honor you, and pray for you, too.
Connect to families in your community
CarePortal is only one of many ways to serve foster families or start your own journey. We also encourage you to get involved with (or start!) your church’s foster and adoption ministry. Talk to your CarePortal Regional Manager about more ways to serve. And if you’re just hearing about CarePortal, we’re excited to help you learn more. Watch this short video about how CarePortal works or contact us.
*CarePortal is a platform of The Global Orphan Project. We do not facilitate adoptions domestically or internationally.