"Mainers Honored For Opening Their Hearts And Home"
One of the most basic needs of a child is to have a safe and loving home, with a family to cherish them and support them. But for hundreds of thousands of children in America—50 million worldwide—unfortunate circumstances have robbed them of the love, support and stability of a family. But among us are “Angels,” who are eager to give generously of themselves and to provide loving homes in order to improve the lives of some of these children.
Some of these angels live in Maine, and one family from Hermon was recently honored for their commitment to children.
Each year, Members of Congress have the privilege of recognizing members of the community who have truly made a difference in children’s lives through adoption with “Angels in Adoption” awards. As a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I proudly nominated Edward and Barbara Ford for their continued efforts on behalf of child welfare and adoption. When the Fords were in Washington, D.C. for the “Angels in Adoption” national awards ceremony, I congratulated them for all they have done for Maine children.
(Senator Collins w/ Ed and Barbara Ford)
Ed and Barbara’s commitment to their family and community is truly remarkable. Barbara is the founder and current president of the Board of Directors of Adoption and Foster Families of Maine. This non-profit provides important support services for adoptive and foster parents, including the training and guidance that many families need as they open their homes to children. Barbara is also very active in a Christian group home for young mothers, helping to teach them parenting skills and providing emotional support for those who elect adoption. Both she and Ed, who works as an aide at the Maine State House, are active in their community as well, and they are the proud parents of a son who is currently in third grade. Yet, the Fords have also adopted five children—and opened their home and hearts to many other foster children over the years. Barbara and Ed are an inspiration to other families, and it gives me great pleasure to provide such well-deserved recognition to this exceptional couple. It is extraordinary people like the Fords who are making a difference to a growing number of children.
There are currently more than 535,000 children in the foster care system at any given time in the United States and an estimated 50 million orphans worldwide. I was pleased to be a cosponsor of the Adoption Promotion Act which was signed into law in 2003. This legislation extended and improved the Adoption Incentives Program, created as part of the 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act.
The Adoption Incentives Program, which rewards states for their efforts to unite foster children with permanent, loving families, has been a great success. Since the program’s inception, adoptions in our country have increased. There are, however, still thousands of children nationwide, including hundreds in Maine, in the foster care system who are eligible for adoption but are still waiting for permanent homes.
Many older children wait for years to be placed with an adoptive family, if they are adopted at all. I was therefore pleased that the Adoption Promotion Act included an incentive to encourage the adoption of older children. Older children also need a stable and loving environment so that they can grow up to be happy, healthy, and productive adults.
It is efforts such as those being made by the “Angels in Adoption” program and the Adoption Promotion Act that are raising public awareness of the ways that committed individuals can help children through adoption and foster care. And it is the example set by people like Barbara and Ed Ford that will inspire others to think about adopting.
