Mayor Ed Mayne has proclaimed November as Adoption Awareness Month in Parksville.
The month provides the opportunity to recognize the care, compassion and unselfish commitment of British Columbia adoptive families and to remind citizens there are many children and sibling groups who are waiting for adoption.
According to the Ministry of Children and Family Development, an annual average of approximately 270 children have been adopted in British Columbia, but there continues to be a need for adoptive families to nurture the growth and development of children, especially those with special needs because of physical, mental or emotional disabilities.
READ MORE: Why some BC SPCA branches currently have no animals available for adoption
Potential adoptive parents come from a diverse range of backgrounds; anyone over the age of 19 who is interested in providing a stable and loving home may be eligible to adopt. It is thanks to these selfless individuals that many children receive the immeasurable benefits of belonging to a family, including the support, assistance and advice necessary to face the challenges of growing up.
The Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia (AFABC) has been supporting adoptive families in British Columbia for more than 40 years. The AFABC’s representatives can provide information on community events and on adoption in general. More information about AFABC can be found at www.bcadoption.com.
The Adopt BC Kids website allows citizens to complete an adoption application online 24/7. Citizens are encouraged to explore the site and encourage community members who are interested in adopting a child in foster care to register at www.gov.bc.ca/adoptbckids.
Information about Adoption Awareness Month is available from www.bcadoption.com/aam.
— NEWS Staff, submitted