Not really what one expects to hear when talking about changing the life of another human being, but “Gotcha’ Day” has grown into a moniker for the families forever changed by the gift of adoption. The term refers to the day in which a child or newborn (and also pets) were officially adopted. Far too often, it’s a journey that takes years, especially if the baby or child is in foster care.
According to their website, the Annie C. Foundation, is an organization that supports and promotes positive, empowering, loving and healthy communities for vulnerable children, youth and families with the goal of preventing the need for foster care; also eliminating barriers that prevent young adults with child welfare histories from succeeding. In an interview with Tom Moore, Director of Recruitment for the foundation, he shared with me that, “Stratford has over 15 children/teens in foster care, with Bridgeport having more than 120…and at this point, attempting to keep our kids within their community and keeping sibling groups together is getting to be difficult with the lack of licensed foster parents.” Being a foster parent can be both a calling, and for some, the way the doors are opened for them to adopt a child.
November is National Adoption Month. Like most awareness months, it is a time in which people are encouraged to honor and educate themselves about an issue. However, children who are in foster care or find themselves standing in front of a judge on the day of their adoption, do so on days that are not only in November. In 2024, a report published by the Child Welfare League of America stated that 395 children were adopted out of foster care, with another 650+ children waiting to be adopted in the state of Connecticut in 2024.
Adoption means permanency for a child – no more uncertainty of where they call home or who their home is with. People hoping to change a life through fostering or adoption most often share that their lives were changed too, because committing to unselfishly caring for another human being takes the same kind of grit that birthing a child into this world takes.
If you or someone you know wants to become a foster parent, please consider reaching out to the Annie C. Foundation or the Boys & Girls Village for more information.
