November is National Adoption Month and Mississippi has hundreds of children waiting for loving adults to welcome them into their family.

National Adoption Month started in 1976 after Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis announced an Adoption Week for his state. Later that same year, President Gerald Ford proclaimed that Adoption Week would be celebrated nationally. As more and more states started to participate, it became clear that more time was needed for holding events and in 1990 National Adoption Week became National Adoption Month.

The 2009 National Adoption Month Theme is “Answering the Call - You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teens in foster care who would love to put up with you.”

This year’s theme of adopting teens from foster care builds on an Ad Council public service announcement campaign for the Children’s Bureau, the Adoption Exchange Association, and The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids. Although the theme of this year’s observance is focused on teen adoption, Libby Goodwin McRae, social work supervisor for the Mississippi Department of Human Services’ Resource Unit Area, said there are children of various ages, races and nationalities in need of adoptive parents.

According to McRae, 117 boys and 118 girls are awaiting foster or adoptive parents in Region IV-S. This region includes Jones, Wayne, Newton, Lauderdale, Jasper and Wayne counties. There are more than 3,200 children in foster care statewide.

“We service all children in Mississippi, but we have divided the state into seven regions,” explained McRae. “Each region has a director in place to work with clients in each area.”

Regardless of what region they serve, McRae said all directors have the same objective — to find loving and caring parents for those children who are eligible for adoption.

Resource Adoption Specialist Georgia McCullum added that African American and special needs children are always the hardest to place. She describes a special needs child as one who has been released or removed from the parent’s custody and is waiting for placement with a family.

“Our special needs kids have one or more of the following conditions — physical or mental disability, emotional disturbance, membership in a sibling group, six years of age or older, and a medical condition,” explained McCullum. “Some of those with special needs may qualify for adoption assistance.”

McRae explained that adoption assistance is a monthly payment adoptive parents receive to help them in supporting an eligible special needs child. Not all children who are currently in foster care are eligible for adoption.

There are currently 338 children that are free for adoption. Some of them are in foster homes with families that are planning to adopt them. In recognition of National Adoption Month, Region VI will sponsor a mass adoption at the Lamar County Court House at 9 a.m. on Nov. 9th. Region VI includes Forrest, George, Greene, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry and Stone counties. There were not enough people to hold a mass adoption in the Jones County area.

“Here in Jones County there is a specific need for African American families to adopt,” said McCullum. “There are a number of children who are eligible for adoption, but we just don’t have families for them.”

McCullum believes African Americans are not stepping up to the plate when it comes to foster care and adoption because they are misinformed about the process.

“They come in and want babies and younger children right away,” said McCullum. “We don’t have kids all the time. Sometimes they will probably have to wait for years. We can’t predict when we will get children in custody who are eligible for adoption.”

According to McRae and McCullum, all children have an inborn desire to be happy. They need the love and guidance that loving and caring “resource parents” can provide.

Guidelines for becoming resource parents include:

• Must be at least 21 years of age.

• Must show proof of U.S. citizenship and be a resident of Mississippi.

• Must be single, married or legally divorced.

• Married couples must have been married at least two years.

• Must have adequate space and beds available to provide for foster/adoptive children.

• Must have a self-supporting income. Your income level must meet a minimum level according to state poverty guidelines.

• Must meet home safety requirements.

• Must have a home telephone, reliable transportation and valid driver’s license.

• Must pass a medical exam and background check that includes fingerprinting.

The Mississippi Department of Human Services does not charge any fees for its foster/adoptive services. Those interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent may call 1-800-345-6347 for additional information.