There are thousands of Arizona children in desperate need of love and support. Through no fault of their own, they have experienced heartbreaking abuse and/or neglect. No child should ever have to endure the pain and sadness of being abused by the person who is supposed to love and care for them. Foster to adopt in AZ gives these children a chance at life and a forever family to love them always.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month raises public awareness during April to increase the efforts and resources necessary to protect children from abuse. Awareness regarding how to help protect and nurture vulnerable children in our own communities can truly save a child’s life.
Why They Need Heroes Now
In January 2019, it was reported that over 14,500 children are in the Arizona foster care system. The majority of these children are victims of gross negligence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or trafficking. Sadly, this maltreatment usually occurs through the hand of someone they know. Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse can cause severe pain, delayed development, and significant behavioral issues.
Once these abused and/or neglected children are taken into state care, it does not mean their troubles are over. In 2017, it was reported that at the national level, 75% of children in foster care are neglected, 18% are physically abused, and 7% are sexually abused.
This is horrific and does not even take into consideration that the average foster child will move from where they live 4-5 times, and change schools at least once a year. It is no wonder that they are more at risk for teen pregnancy, homelessness, PTSD, and poor educational outcomes.
This is happening in our neighborhoods, right now. It’s why children in Arizona need you now. They need heroes to save them from the bleak outcomes they can expect if they stay in the foster care system. Foster children all over Arizona and from around the country are hoping for a loving and caring adult to rescue them and welcome them into a forever family.
How To Be The Answer to A Foster Child’s Prayer
Children who experience abuse and/or neglect need support and love from a caring adult that understands the consequences of their trauma. A child needs to feel safe and needs to feel supported in expressing and managing their intense emotions. Traumatic events can cause a child not to have the ability to cope and have appropriate physical and emotional responses. By helping them, or providing the help they need, children can begin to heal, to develop loving, trusting relationships, and to experience bright futures.
No Need to Foster to Adopt AZ Foster Children
Every Arizona citizen can help make sure every child can grow up in a healthy and stable environment. Building Arizona Families does direct adoption placements for Arizona families. The adoptive family does not need to be foster care certified. Instead, the adoptive family is certified to adopt through a home study. A child, from Arizona or from around the country, can come to live in your home and after six months your family can legally adopt.
Adopting a child out of the foster care system is less expensive than private adoption. The adoption process also moves more quickly.
Can You Be the Answer to a Foster Child’s Prayer?
Building Arizona Families invites you to consider adopting a foster child. Remember, contrary to what many people believe, you do not have to foster to adopt AZ foster children. We will help you walk through the direct adoption of children in the foster care system.
You will be blessed by having a precious child to love, and you will change the life of a foster child forever. If you would like more information on the foster child adoption process, find out more HERE.
We also invite you to attend one of our informative adoption seminars. You can reach out to Ixcel Baca, Program Coordinator, directly and ask any questions you might have. Ixcel would love to hear from you! You can reach Ixcel at (623) 696-9537 or by e-mailing her at [email protected].
It is our responsibility to save the lives of thousands of children in foster care, and we can do this with the foster to adopt in AZ program at Building Arizona families, find out more HERE.
April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. (2019, April). Retrieved from https://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm?event=website.viewArticles&issueid=205§ionid=1&articleid=5301
Arizona’s Foster Children. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.arizonansforchildren.org/page/arizonas-foster-children
National Child Abuse Prevention Month Strong and Thriving Families 2019. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth/resources/resource-guide/
Chapter 4: Protecting Children