Sen. John Kennedy encourages families to adopt children

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, is urging families in his state and across the country to consider adopting children from the foster care system.

Kennedy said many Americans who pursue adoption focus on infants, even though most children in foster care are older.

“Many of the children waiting for adoption are teens. In fact, infants younger than 1 month old account for 62% of all domestic adoptions in our country, despite being just 2% of children eligible for adoption in our foster care system. The other 98% of these kids and teens in foster care are not even considered by most couples seeking adoption,” Kennedy said in a release.

Federal data show tens of thousands of children remain in foster care each year while waiting for adoption. Many are teenagers. Older youth often wait longer and are adopted at lower rates than infants.

In Louisiana, hundreds of children remain in foster care at any given time, including many older youth who face lower odds of finding permanent homes.

Kennedy praised mothers who choose adoption in difficult situations, noting cultural pressure to choose abortion.

“I want to be clear: All adoptions – each and every adoption – all adoptions are worth celebrating, especially adoptions of infants,” Kennedy said. “The mothers who gave birth to these children stand strong in the face of a culture that tells them abortion is the easy way out, and these courageous women choose life instead. It’s one of the most honorable things that a mother could do. But we can’t forget about the teens living in foster care.”

Faith-based adoption groups and foster care ministries play a major role in placing children, even as government systems fall short.

Kennedy said the government cannot solve the problem alone and called on families to step up.

“Now, the government can’t fix this problem,” Kennedy said. “We can’t. Moms and dads can. And we need moms and dads across this country to try to step up and fix this problem. So, I just wanted to take a minute today to encourage parents in America to think about becoming foster parents. There’s no higher calling. Pray about it. And if you are in Louisiana, visit the Department of Children and Family Services website, or you can reach out to Unite Foster Care Ministries to learn more about the foster care process and system.”

Children who age out of foster care without adoption face higher risks of homelessness, unemployment and other hardships.

Kennedy said strong families are key to addressing those challenges.

“A country is only as strong as its people,” Kennedy said. “And a country’s people are only as strong as their families. So, let’s do all we can to ensure that every kid in America – every single one – has a family to call their own.”