The Montelongo family from Fountain is one of five families being recognized by the Colorado Department of Human Services during National Adoption Month. When Thomas and Jeanette Montelongo married two years ago they both had children who were young adults or teens. At the beginning of last year, they decided to fill their empty nest through adoption from foster care. After first seeing their son Isaiah on the Colorado Heart Gallery, Thomas and Jeanette knew he would be a perfect addition to their family. They started the process of becoming foster parents with him in mind. This summer, Isaiah’s adoption was finalized, and the family continues to foster with hopes of adopting again.
November is National Adoption Month
In celebration of November’s National Adoption Month and to encourage more Coloradans to adopt from foster care, the Colorado Department of Human Services recently recognized five adoptive families from across the state in a virtual celebration.
There are three types of adoption: adoption from foster care, international adoption and domestic infant adoption.
Most adoptions in the United States are through the foster care system.
“The five families we recognized today demonstrate the power of unconditional love and support that really allows children to flourish,” said Michelle Barnes, executive director of the Colorado Department of Human Services.. “They have done much more than open their homes and families to Colorado children — they have also provided safety and stability.”
How does adoption through foster care work? Here are five things you might not know about it.
1. At the beginning of National Adoption Month, Colorado reported that there were currently 408 kids who were waiting for a family.
Since January 2020, 525 Colorado children and youth in foster care have been adopted.
The primary goal of foster care is to reunify children with their parents. However, if that option is not available, adoption or another type of permanency is the secondary goal. Most children and youth who are adopted from the foster care system are adopted by their foster parents.
Adoption from foster care has little to no cost.
2. Children and teens who are waiting for a family are a lot like the kids who you already know.
Those in foster care did not do anything wrong. They are regular children who, through no fault of their own, need to live outside their own homes.
Kids are resilient. Even when they’ve experienced toxic stress, like child abuse or neglect, they can overcome and reach their full potential with help from the community.
Kids are never too old to need a family. Many of the kids waiting to be adopted are teens.
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