During Adoption Awareness Month in November, the Province is launching a new social media campaign to encourage British Columbians to consider adopting one of the more than 1,000 children and teens who are currently waiting for a forever family.

Of those young people in B.C. who are waiting for adoption, many are school-age or teens and may even be part of a sibling group that needs to stay together. Some may have special placement needs due to difficult early childhood experiences, prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs, learning delays or other developmental challenges. Most importantly, each child would benefit from a permanent adoptive family.

By raising the profile of ministry adoptions in B.C., the campaign is intended to recruit up to 1,000 adoptive parents, but also seeks to dispel common myths about adoption and promote unique and diverse adoptive families through online advertising, tweets and Facebook posts.

The campaign also features a fun “build-a-family” app that mimics the popular stick figures often found on the back windows of family vehicles. To view the campaign, visit www.1000familiesbc.com where you will also find profiles of adoptive families and campaign videos.

The ministry worked in partnership with the Adoptive Families Association of BC (AFABC) and B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) to design the campaign. A broader campaign is planned for 2015-16 in direct response to a recommendation in the RCY report, Finding Forever Families.

To find out more about adoption in B.C., call 1 877 ADOPT-07.

(flickr.com)

Quotes:

Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development -

“This campaign recognizes that every child deserves a permanent home. Whatever needs a child or youth in care may have - and whatever age they are - I’m confident there is a perfect family somewhere in British Columbia who will love and support them.”

A video message marking Adoption Awareness Month is available at: youtu.be/21qLWeyZOmU

Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia -

“As a proud mother of four adopted children I cannot express the love, joy and fulfilment they have brought to our family. There are 1,000 children in British Columbia who need homes now. Please find it in your hearts to consider providing a forever home to these children in need. I can assure you that you will be rewarded every day of your lives together.”

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth -

“There are more than 1,000 children in care in B.C. waiting to be welcomed by an adoptive family - waiting for the love, nurturing and support that every child needs in order to grow up with the best chance to succeed in life. I support the Minister in helping to ensure that these children are raised in families who treasure them.”

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

"It's so great to see MCFD create a campaign that recognizes the need to find families for these kids: siblings, those with Aboriginal heritage, and many with special placement needs. All of B.C.’s waiting kids need the opportunity to grow up in a secure and unconditionally committed family." 

Quick Facts:

• Potential adoptive parents come from diverse backgrounds and have a range of life experiences. Anyone 19 years of age and over, who is interested in providing a loving, nurturing home may be eligible to adopt.
• Over the past 10 years, an annual average of approximately 270 children has been adopted in British Columbia.
• Approximately 39% of adopted children are adopted by their foster family.
• Many of the children and youth still waiting for adoption are school age. They may be siblings who need to stay together. Some may have special placement needs due to difficult early childhood experiences, prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs, learning delays or other developmental challenges.

Learn More:

Adoptive Families Association of BC: B.C. Federation of Foster Parent Associations: www.bcfosterparents.ca/

Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks: fbcyicn.ca

Contact the Adoption Reunion Registry toll‐free at 1 877 387‐3660 or visit: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/reunion/index.htm

Media Contacts:

Sheldon Johnson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639