Adoptive families, adoptions workers and local MLAs took to the ice during the first intermission of last night's Kelowna Rockets game to celebrate November as Adoption Awareness Month.

While adoptive families danced in a lively flash mob to High School Musical's, "We're All in this Together," Minister of Citizens' Services and Open Government Ben Stewart, Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick, and Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson flung adoption-themed t-shirts and hats into the crowd to help draw attention to the positive impacts adoption has on the life of a vulnerable child and the loving families adoption creates.

Of the more than 330 children and youth in government care in the Kelowna area, nearly 40 are waiting to be adopted. So far this year, Okanagan families have committed their lives to 11 children and youth and experienced the joy that adoption can bring.

Anyone interested in exploring adoption and ways to get involved are encouraged to visit the government's adoption website at: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption

As part of the B.C. Family Agenda, the government has committed to protecting and caring for the province's most vulnerable citizens, including children and youth in care who can't return to their families.

(flickr.com)

Quotes:

Minister of Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux -

"The B.C. government is thankful to all the adoptive families who provide the emotional, physical and financial stability that all children and youth deserve."

Minister of Agriculture and Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick -

"As a parent of an adopted child, I can tell you that she has been as much a blessing to my life as I hope mine to hers."

Minister of Citizens' Services and Open Government and Westside-Kelowna MLA Ben Stewart -

"We know that children and youth provided with the greater stability and support offered through adoption have better outcomes than youth who leave government care without the support of a permanent family environment."

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson -

"All children and youth need the love, security and support of a lifelong, caring family."

Quick Facts:

• Children and youth come into government care for a variety of reasons:
• A parent may be unable to provide a safe, stable home or unable to provide the type of care a child or youth needs.
• A child or youth's parents may have passed away without naming a guardian.
• Parents may have decided that adoption is the best option for their child or youth.
• Ministry of Children and Family Development adoption staff work diligently to ensure only the very best match between a child or youth and an adoptive family. Considerations taken before matching a child or youth can include:
• The child or youth being part of a sibling group.
• Special needs requirements.
• Cultural appropriateness of the home.
• Over the past 10 years, B.C. has averaged more than 290 adoptions of children and youth in care annually, a significant increase from 165 in 2000-01.
• Permanent families were found for 23 teens last year, an increase from 10 in 2001.
• Recognizing the need to maintain cultural connections, the number of Aboriginal children and youth placed for adoption with Aboriginal families was approximately 64 per cent last year, up from 27 per cent in 2001.

Learn More:

The Adoptive Families Association of BC is contracted by the Ministry of Children and Family Development to provide education and support to adoptive families and those interested in adoption. Visit their website at: www.bcadoption.com

Meet some of the B.C. children and youth waiting to be adopted at: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/bulletin_external/profiles.htm

Contact:

Sheldon Johnson
Manager Media Relations
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 812-7977