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OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- In fiscal year 2002, Oklahoma’s Swift Adoption Services placed more than 1,200 children in quality adoptive homes. That’s an increase of more than 200 from the previous year and the fourth year in a row that adoption placements have exceeded 1,000.
But with this great success, there is still a need for adoptive homes, particularly for groups of brothers and sisters hoping to be adopted together. More than 70 percent of the children awaiting adoption have brothers and sisters and need to be placed in homes where they can grow up together.
To help raise awareness about the growing number of siblings awaiting adoption, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Swift Adoption Program would like to introduce Oklahomans to a group of five siblings who are hoping to grow up together in a loving adoptive home.
Meet Fannie, a healthy 13-year-old, who is outgoing and loves outdoor activities. She enjoys writing poetry and stories, and keeps a journal of her writings. She currently plays on her school basketball team.
Meet William, a healthy 12-year-old, who is initially quiet and shy when he first meets new people. He gets along well with his foster parents and is good about helping around the house and keeping his room picked up. Like most youths, school is not his favorite activity, and he needs frequent reminding to complete his schoolwork.
Meet Isaiah, an active, outgoing 11-year-old who gets along well with peers and his foster parents. He is a loving child who is a "people-pleaser" and who is loved by his teachers. Like many of us, Isaiah sometimes likes to be alone, but he loves his family and often worries about them.
Meet Clarissa, a shy, healthy 9-year-old, who makes friends easily and has no problems relating well to peers. Clarissa is very affectionate with her siblings. She is generally cooperative with her foster parents and likes to help around the house, and enjoys spending time with her foster family, especially fishing.
Meet Starriah, a healthy 7-year-old, who makes friends easily and gets along well with her teachers and peers. She gives and shows affection easily and is cooperative with her foster family and enjoys helping around the house.
Currently William and Isaiah are together in a foster home, but their sisters are living in a separate foster home away from their brothers. These children are in need of a loving adoptive home where they can be together again.
If you or someone you know would like more information about adoption, please call 1-877-OK-SWIFT (1-877-657-9438), or click on http://www.OKDHS.org/adopt/
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Media Representatives: This would make a great feature story for the month of November. If you would like to interview someone in your area who has adopted, please contact the Office of Communications and we will make arrangements.
