The adoption community in Metro Vancouver will take part in an exciting kick-off to Adoption Awareness Month today at BC Place Stadium, courtesy of the BC Lions.

Fifty adoptive children, parents and members of the Adoptive Families Association of BC will join Minister of Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux to view the pre-game action at field level before cheering on the football club from the stands for its last home game of the regular season against the Calgary Stampeders.

Adoption Awareness Month is proclaimed every November in B.C. to draw attention to the number of children and teens in B.C. who are waiting to join a loving, permanent family. While nearly 1,300 kids have been adopted from government care in the past five years, there is a need for more adoptive families as more than 1,000 children in B.C. are still waiting for a permanent family.

Adoptive families are especially needed for teens in care. While teens represent more than 30 per cent of kids waiting to be adopted, they only account for just over 10 per cent of adoptions annually.

Adoption is not about being the perfect parent or possessing special traits, and a potential adoptive parent's marital status or sexual orientation does not matter. Adoption is about a deep, lifelong commitment in a supportive, loving family environment.

Individuals looking to build their family are encouraged to consider adoption as a rewarding option and can call 1 877 ADOPT-07 (1 877 236-7807) or for more information visit: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/index.htm

Tickets to the game were donated by the BC Lions through the Be More Than a Bystander program and provided to the Adoptive Families Association of BC through the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Complimentary tickets, through the program, were also provided for foster families and kids in care in celebration of Foster Family Month in October. Fifty children in care and foster parents joined Minister Cadieux on the sidelines for the pre-game warm up on Oct. 25 before watching the BC Lions defeat the Edmonton Eskimos 43-29.

Quotes:

Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development -

"Adoption Awareness Month is an opportunity for us to recognize the positive, lasting impact that adoption has on a child or teen, and a time to promote adoption as a great way to build a family. Thank you to the BC Lions for helping raise awareness about the many children in care waiting to join a permanent family."

Jamie Taras, director of community relations, BC Lions Football Club -

"The health of any community can be gauged by the way we look after those most vulnerable, especially our children. The Adoptive Families of BC play an important role in supporting permanent, loving families for children in need and in promoting adoption. The BC Lions Football Club is proud to recognize and support their efforts."

Karen Madeiros, executive director, Adoptive Families Association of BC -

"Adoption provides waiting children with the loving, supportive, and permanent family environment that every child deserves. Coming together to celebrate adoption gives adoptive families the chance to connect and to know they're not alone. We thank the BC Lions for their generosity."

Quick Facts:

• In 2012-13, the Ministry of Children and Family Development placed 210 children in care - a significant increase from the 165 adopted in 2000-01.
• 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.
• A child or youth's parents may have decided that adoption is the best option for their child.
• If a child or youth is unable to return to their family, adoption may be an option for their permanent plan of care.
• Last year, 32 per cent of children adopted from care were adopted by their foster family.

Learn More:

BC Lions: http://www.bclions.com/

Adoptive Families Association of BC: http://www.bcadoption.com/

Fostering: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/foster/index.htm

Be More Than a Bystander: http://www.endingviolence.org/Be+More+Than+a+Bystander

Contacts:

Sheldon Johnson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1739
sheldon.johnson@gov.bc.ca

Jamie Cartmell
Director of Communications
BC Lions Football Club
604 930-5469
778 558-0761 (cell)
jcartmell@bclions.com

Andrea McBeath
Social Media, Communications Coordinator
Adoptive Families Association of BC
604 320-7330 ext. 108
amcbeath@bcadoption.com