Waterbury, VT— Vermont Governor Phil Scott recently proclaimed November as Adoption Month in Vermont, recognizing the importance of ensuring every child has a permanent, safe, and entrusted family.
Adoption Month is a time to:
- Celebrate and honor all people whose lives are touched by adoption.
- Focus attention on children and youth still waiting for their forever families. There are currently about 100 waiting children in Vermont.
- Recognize the importance of children’s connections to their family of origin, whether by post-adoption contact or through reunification with birth families of more than 50% of the children and youth who come to the Department for Children and Families attention.
Project Family, a partnership between Lund and the Department for Children and Families (DCF), works to find permanent families for children and youth. But more families are needed, especially for youth over the age of 14. The chances of a child under eight being adopted are almost nine times greater than for one over 14.
In 2022:
- 186 children and youth were adopted following DCF involvement.
- There were 90 agreements for ongoing contact between the birth parents and children. These numbers highlight the value of connection to a child’s birth family.
- Vermont enacted a change to adoption law, expanding access to adoption records in Vermont. Since July 1st, over 150 individuals have connected with the Vermont Adoption Registry to access information about their previously inaccessible records.
- Over 3000 children living in Vermont joined their families through adoption or guardianship.
- Over 250 families received free Post Permanency Services statewide.
The Heart Gallery
Many young people choose to participate in Vermont’s Heart Gallery, which allows Vermonters to learn more about the children and youth who are waiting for forever families. The Heart Gallery can be viewed on the DCF website. Throughout November, National Adoption Month Posters will be displayed at all Welcome & Information Centers throughout the State to help spread awareness in Vermont.
We are also looking for organizations to host Heart Gallery events. It’s a wonderful opportunity to show your support for Vermont children and youth. Project Family has free bookmarks available for distribution, as well. If your organization is interested in elevating the needs of Vermont’s waiting children by hosting a Heart Gallery exhibition or distributing bookmarks, please contact Toni at toniy@lundvt.org.
To learn how you can help a child in need of a family, call Project Family at 1-800-746-7000 or visit the Project Family Website.
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Lund helps children thrive by empowering families to break cycles of poverty, addiction, and abuse. Lund offers hope and opportunity to families through education, treatment, family support and adoption. Lund is a member agency of the United Way of Northwest Vermont.
The Vermont Department for Children and Families delivers a wide array of programs and services to Vermonters in areas such as child care, child development, child protection, child support, disability determination, and economic benefits that help meet basic needs.
For Media Inquiries: Natasha Payton, Marketing and Communications Manager, Lund, natashap@lundvt.org.
