[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 171 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I wish to bring attention today to the 
108,000 foster children in our country who right now are waiting to be 
adopted. Of these, more than 14,000 are in California.
  These are children who cannot safely be reunited with their 
biological families and are without a permanent place to call home 
through absolutely no fault of their own. These are children who are 
waiting for a family, wanting to belong, and needing our help. Of these 
children, more than 20,000 age out of the foster care system every 
year. They are sent on their way and expected to make it on their own. 
This is unacceptable.
  What do we know about their outcomes? It isn't good. Around half of 
foster youth graduate high school, and less than three percent earn a 
college degree. Around a quarter will become homeless after aging out 
of the foster system. Many will find their way into the justice system.
  Now, imagine a different outcome. Children are meant to be in a 
family. All children deserve love, safety, and permanency. No child is 
unadoptable.
  November marks National Adoption Month, and November 21st is National 
Adoption Day. This highlights not only the need to find loving homes 
for children who are waiting, but celebrates those who have opened 
their hearts and chosen to build their families through adoption. 
Children in foster care are not just in need, they are waiting for a 
family to give their love and to share their joy.
  In 2014, more than 50,000 children were adopted from foster care. 
What adoption means to youth who have been through foster care is best 
said in their own words.
  From Athena, a young lady in Pasadena, CA, who was adopted from 
foster care: ``Adoption is very dear and important to me. As an older 
youth in the system, you expect to have no support, let alone adoption 
as an option. But being a part of a family was all I ever wanted and 
deep down it is what most foster youth want because it means love, 
stability and a place for one to grow and excel in.''
  And from Cassidy, an adopted teenager in California: ``If you take a 
chance on a foster child by adopting them, you give them a chance to be 
who they were born to be. Let's make `aging-out' a term no longer 
needed in the English language.''
  Darnell, an older teen adopted in California, explains what finding a 
permanent family means to him: ``Adoption means I have a second chance 
at life, I know I am loved and have a safe place to call home. When 
strangers take you into their home and love you just for who you are; 
you can relax and live a regular life.''
  All children in foster care deserve this second chance at having 
their forever family and a safe and loving home. I encourage those who 
are interested in learning more about adoption from foster care to 
visit www.adoptuskids.org.
 This is also a time to celebrate the many volunteers and mentors who 
provide a positive, stable relationship for a child going through a 
time of vast uncertainty. There may not be a simple solution, but we do 
know what gets us closer.
  Programs that provide comprehensive resources--tutoring, mentoring, 
mental health services, and adults that build meaningful relationships 
with youth leads to improved outcomes, including higher rates of 
permanency.
  Focused family finding efforts that reach out to extended family 
members and others who have played a role in the life of the child gets 
results. That means fewer youth who age out of the system.
  We can and must do better because 20,000 of our Nation's foster 
children aging out of the system each year is simply unacceptable. 
These are our most vulnerable, the ones recovering from trauma, abuse, 
and neglect. The ones who are at high risk of being sold into child sex 
trafficking and a number of other terrible outcomes.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure a better 
future for foster youth in our country and, as Cassidy, a teenager who 
was adopted from foster care in California says, make the term ``aging 
out'' one that we no longer need to use. Thank you.

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