According to nationaladoptionday.org, “Every year, more than 100,000 children in foster care are available for adoption. Many spend more than five years waiting for permanent, loving homes.” In honor of National Adoption Month, we’ve compiled a list of statistics regarding children seeking permanent families, as reported by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

There are an estimated 408,425 children in foster care in the United States and more than 100,000 of them are waiting to be adopted.
The children in foster care are usually placed there because of abuse, abandonment and/or neglect on the part of their parents and/or caretakers.
11 percent of the children in foster care spend five years or more waiting to be adopted.
Nearly 30,000 children reach age 18 without ever finding a permanent family.

Several resources are available for parents in Pittsburgh looking to adopt a child. The Three Rivers Adoption Council posts photos and biographies of children in foster care looking to become part of a loving family forever at http://www.3riversadopt.org. The CBS Pittsburgh affiliate, in conjunction with the Three Rivers Adoption Council posts videos regarding children waiting to be adopted as well at http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/waiting-child/.

If you are thinking of expanding your family through adoption, consider adopting a child from foster care. These children have experienced a feeling no one should ever feel – the feeling of abandonment, abuse or neglect. What they need most is the genuine love of a family of which they are an unconditional member.

The Pittsburgh adoption attorneys at Taybron Law Firm, LLC, P.C. can help you navigate the maze of adoption laws. You need skilled representation to guide you through the process. Contact us for a consultation today to learn how to get started on expanding your family and improving a child’s life.