To the editor:

November is National Adoption Month and U.P. KIDS would like to recognize the special families that have opened their homes to children in need of a forever family.

Currently, there are over 100,000 children in the United States foster care system available for adoption, and over 10,000 without an identified home. According to the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), 262 of these children are in Michigan and over 75 percent of these children are between the ages of 11-18.

Parenting an adopted child is a difficult decision to make, but for the brave, dedicated families who have accepted this lifelong commitment, the rewards of giving a young child or teenager a place to call a “forever home” is everlasting.

Adoptive parents offer children a sense of belonging, security, and unconditional love. The goal of adoption is to provide permanency for children in a loving, stable, and nurturing home where children can grow and thrive mentally, physically, and socially.

Though becoming an adoptive parent can be stressful and time consuming, the commitment to becoming a family for these children throughout their lives is a reward in of itself.

There are also services for families who have adopted through child welfare/foster care called Post Adoption Resource Center (PARC). Our Specialists advocate for families, navigate services such as mental health, education, social security, and subsidy applications. These services also include family preservation such as strengthening the family and preventing disruptions. U.P. KIDS services all 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula.

For information about becoming an adoptive parent, foster parents or Post Adoption Resource Center (PARC), please visit our website: www.upkids.com or contact us by phone/email: 487-9832 or corey@upkids.com.

Corey M. LaBissoniere

U.P. KIDS

HOUGHTON