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Caroline CASA National Adoption Month, fi rst offi cially parent through the Caroline County
Court Appointed Special Advocate recognized in 1998 by President Bill Department of Social Services. If you
Clinton, was created to fi nd permanent or someone you know is interested in
National Adoption Month
homes for children in foster care supporting a child or youth who is living
waiting for a home each year. During in foster care while waiting for their
by Amy Horne, Executive
this month, we spread awareness of forever home, one of the best places to
Director, CASA of Caroline
adoption, advocate for the well-being start is as a CASA Volunteer Advocate.
November is National and future of children in foster care, and Please visit www.casaofcaroline.org or
Adoption Month, a honor families that have grown through contact CASA of Caroline at 410-479-
month to celebrate adoption. While celebrating those who 8301 or Info@casaofcaroline.org for
the families who have found one another, let’s not forget further information or to apply to be
have grown through the children, parents and families who an advocate.
adoption, and to struggle with the adoption process, The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention

recognize the many the children who age out of foster care funded this project under sub-award number CJAC-
children who are still waiting for without a family, and those children 2019-0004 and VOCA-2018-0063. All points of view
forever families. This year’s theme is who still wait. in this document are those of the author and do not

“Empowering Youth: Finding Points necessarily represent the official position of any State
or Federal Agency. This project is supported by a grant

of Connection”, which emphasizes the If you or someone you know is interested from the Maryland Judiciary’s Administrative Offi ce of
importance of providing opportunities in adopting a child, one of the best the Courts number AOC-G20CA0225I.
and services that connect older youth places to start is becoming a foster
to their backgrounds to support
meaningful permanent relationships.
Being connected to their roots is an
important part of building their
own identity. Together we can make
a difference in how we support and
partner with youth in planning their
future by making identity a part of the
conversation from the very beginning.
All adoption stories include an element
of loss and/or grief with the loss of a
biological connection and emotional
ties to family, culture and traditions.
This includes the loss of knowing you

look like someone else who isn’t a part
of your life, and the loss of knowing who
you are and where you came from. Th is
is true even for the author of this article,
who was adopted into a safe, loving
family as a baby yet still struggled with
identity issues until finally meeting her

biological mother in 2018.
There are more than 114,000 teens in

foster care, and many are looking for
answers about their identity. Without
access to or knowledge of their history,
many teens may leave foster care
disconnected from their roots and
wondering, “Who am I?”. By supporting
efforts to connect older youth with
resources and activities that embrace
their cultural identities, we can help
these kids transition to more successful
adulthoods.

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