In this season of gratitude and love, we can’t go without showing support for our amazing foster parents. The last few years have been difficult for everyone, but the group of adults who stepped up to care for children and youth during such a volatile time deserve some serious respect, especially during National Adoption Month!

Last year, we had the immense honor to facilitate the adoptions of 16 children from our Foster Care Program, and that is something to celebrate during National Adoption Month!

While the ultimate goal of our program is reunification, if that isn’t possible, children in State custody can be available for adoption, and the majority of adoptable children in foster care find their forever homes with their current foster families.

As much as we would love to guarantee to permanently add to your family, predicting if and when a child will be available to adopt just leads to heartbreak. If the biological parent or a relative has the ability to care for that child or children, they have the right to do so. For many people, this is a big turn-off for fostering, and we understand that. If you’re looking strictly to adopt, we ask that you manage your expectations when going into the foster care journey.

But, there is a silver lining! All the love and attention that you want to give to a child won’t go to waste, even if a placement isn’t forever. Children and youth in foster care need your attachment, and you won’t go through it alone! We have an excellent network of foster families and Chambliss Center for Children staff that can walk alongside you through it all, whether you end up adopting or not.

For more information about how you can get involved with our Foster Care Program or register for our next set of foster parent training classes, send us an email at fostercare@chamblisscenter.org.