For the third year in a row, Alabama has set a new record for the number of foster care adoptions in the state.
Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday that 814 foster kids in Alabama were adopted over fiscal year 2020, up from 731 in FY 2019.
“I am so proud that Alabama has set yet another record and placed so many children in permanent homes,” Ivey remarked in a release.
“This is a truly important milestone in a year that has seen many delays to finalizing adoptions, due to the pandemic. We are proud to have found permanency for these 814 children that deserve forever families,” said Alabama Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Buckner.
Over 70% of the foster children adopted in Alabama over the last year went home to family members or their parents, a fairly normal rate.
Ivey added, “I am so appreciative for the innovative work of our adoption professionals and the Department of Human Resources, during this unique time, to complete this record number of adoptions. Also, I sincerely thank our foster families, and most importantly, the forever families, for giving these children loving homes and for your sacrifice and love for our children.”
Governor Ivey and President Donald Trump have proclaimed November to be National Adoption Month, and U.S. Rep Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) sponsored a congressional resolution to that end.
Per the governor’s office, 468 children remain in Alabama’s foster care system that need forever homes.
“We could not have accomplished this milestone without our vital partners in the permanency and adoption process, especially the judges and adoptive parents. However, we must be mindful that the work is not done. We have hundreds of additional children that continue to wait for his or her permanent family. Our staff and others are working hard every day to give these children that needed permanency. There are no unwanted children, just unfound families,” concluded Buckner.
Resources on adoption in Alabama can be found here.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
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