November is National Adoption Awareness Month and on Thursday, five children were adopted by five families at the Brown County Courthouse.  Children, families, friends, attorneys, and community stakeholders joined in celebrating as these children were legally joined with their new families.  A reception and balloon release followed the adoptions.

Last year, more than 5,468 children got the answer they were looking for when they were adopted into their own forever family, but the quest continues for more homes and more children who are still waiting for a home of their own. More than 6,800 children in the care of the State of Texas are waiting to be adopted.

Older children tend to linger even longer in foster care.  The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) asks caring adults to consider becoming adoptive parents.

More Texas children were adopted from state care last year than ever before. In fact, the number of children adopted from state care increased 62 percent over the last decade, but the need for safe and loving homes actually increased by 35 percent during the same period.

“We’ve made great strides getting children adopted, but Texas is growing fast and the need for safe, permanent homes is greater than ever,” said DFPS Commissioner John Specia. “If you can help, please get involved in making a child’s dream come true.”

Texas needs adoptive parents for children of all ages. Some of these children have special medical, physical, or emotional needs. The one thing they all have in common is the need for a forever family.

What greater gift than the gift of family? Children are waiting at