There are about 800 children who are ready for adoption in Virginia. They are ready to find a permanent and loving forever family. 10 News is highlighting one child who needs a home every day in November during 30 Days of Hope. The children are of all ages and races and were put into foster care due to no fault of their own. 2024 marks the eighth year 10 News is doing this series.
Thank you so much for making 30 Days of Hope a success again this year! Thousands of you watched the stories and are making a difference for kids in the Commonwealth.
For the first time ever, we had a dozen kids who had been on 30 Days of Hope in previous years. In the eight years of this project, the number has never been that high and shows the real need for people to step up and consider adoption.
You shared the stories with your friends and families online and through social media. Then, many of you called the Virginia Department of Social Services.
“30 Days of Hope, we received a lot of emails and telephone calls from families all across the state. They really wanted to know how they can pitch in this year,” said Chris Claiborne, a VDSS adoption recruitment coordinator who read through many of your emails.
“I was more blown away with how many people wanted to give back,” Claiborne said. “Children need permanent connections. They need loving homes and loving families and so the 30 Days of Hope campaign really helps.”
Claiborne says if you want to help they really need people to foster and adopt 12 to 17 year olds, guiding them through their teen years as they become adults.
“We know children thrive better in families, and they thrive when they have those permanent connections to families,” said Claiborne.
800 kids are all waiting to be adopted in Virginia and they all want the same things.
We asked Joshua what kind of family he dreams of having.
“A nice family who like takes me in to adopt me and keep me, and make sure I’m safe, and I’m eating well,” he said.
Ceaser said if he could pick the perfect family, it would be, “Somebody that I can trust because trust goes a long way.”
Lilly said, “To me, belonging means to be with a family, that’s where I need to belong.”
Social workers like Natalie Spears from Pittsylvania County, pleading with families and knowing the life-changing love they could bring,
“I feel like if at least just a few families decide to take their time and foster or adopt. I think it could make a really big difference, and maybe there won’t be so many kids stuck in the system,” said Spears.
Ready to take the next step?
Frequently asked questions about foster care and adoption in Virginia can be found here.
If you have questions about foster care/adoption or are interested in starting the process, contact the VDSS Division of Family Services Adoption Recruitment Coordinator at adoptioninquiries@dss.virginia.gov.
To see all the 30 Days of Hope stories and children we are featuring, visit us here.