In 2011, 401,000 children were in foster care.  Because of their backgrounds, children growing up in foster care are more likely to have behavioral or emotional problems.  Research proves that people who grew up in foster care are more likely to endure homelessness, poverty, bad health and unemployment after they leave the foster care system.

“The minute they turn 18, the funding ends, unless the foster family has personal funds, the child has to leave,” said Major George Rocheleau of the Salvation Army.

Only about half of the children that grow up in the foster care system earn a high school diploma. 25% experience homelessness and only 2% earn a Bachelors degree or higher.

There are many different reasons why a child has been placed up for adoption.  Regardless of the reason, that  child should be able to have all the opportunities he or she deserves.  These children deserve to grow up in a loving, stable environment that they can call home.  They do not deserve to go from one home to the next, never knowing what it is like to have a real family.  Research shows that an average foster baby will live in three different homes before his first birthday.

According to Foster Care Statistics provided by A.B.C news, approximately 800,000 children every year come in contact with the foster care system

The United States foster care system is overcrowded. There are many children in foster care who are waiting for adoptive families to give them permanent homes.  The adoption and foster care process may take much time and effort, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

“The journey through foster care and adoption has not always been easy, but God has met my needs and my kids needs each and every step of the way. The blessings have greatly surpassed the challenges,” said Emily Nienhuis, who works with One Heart Family ministries.

Neinhuis grew up with two biological siblings and four adopted siblings.  She has been a foster mom to 19 children and has adopted four girls through the foster care system.

She has worked for One Heart Family ministries, a ministry founded to help children in the Foster Care system, for eight years.  She recruits, assists, trains and supports Christian families who are foster and adoptive families.

One Heart Family ministries is an organization founded by Robin and Dave Kruse along with Eddie and Judy Getts.  They all shared the same passion- to find more Christian families to nurture or adopt hurting children in the Foster Care System.  They started One Heart Family Ministries in hopes of finding hundreds of children a Christian family to care for them.

Over 100 families have been recruited and trained to be Missouri State foster and/or adoptive families with One Heart since January of 2004.

According to Child Welfare data, there are far more children waiting in foster care to be adopted than are adopted each year.  24 children enter foster/residential care everyday in the state of Missouri.

Oneheartfamilyministries.org contains a link that takes web viewers to a list of children in St. Louis waiting to be adopted.  Each child’s bio contains information about them including their personality traits, interests, and talents.

Almost anyone can adopt.  There are a few requirements to adopt in the state of Missouri that include being 21 years old, being in good health, having a stable income, and a few others.  Married or single adults are all encouraged to adopt.

One Heart Family Ministries offers foster care and adoption training classes.  Their website has a copy of a Missouri State Adoption Application that can be downloaded and used.

Millions of women are facing infertility problems. They are seeking medical help from doctors to get pregnant and have a child of their own.  In many cases, infertility is treated by drugs or surgery which both cost a lot of money.  In my opinion, these women should choose adoption as a first option and not a last resort.

At sharedjourney.com, women share their successful adoption stories to encourage other families to adopt.  Many of these women choose adoption because they were unable to get pregnant.

“We realized we had lost sight of our goal which was to parent a child, not necessarily become pregnant. When we decided to adopt it was like a weight had been lifted off our shoulders,” said Cindy D, adoptive mother.

Adoptive parents (who could not have their own children) realize that their adopted children bring so many blessings to them that they come to terms gladly with their situation. They grow through adoption themselves.

There are many different services available to adoptive parents.  These services include adoption subsidies and financial aid for adoptive families as well as adoption support groups and training on parenting after adoption.  Information on these resources can be found at adoptuskids.org.