Today, MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard spoke about Adoption Awareness in the Legislature. You can watch the video here, or read the transcript below.

November is Adoption Awareness month, a time to honour adoptive families and all those other families in B.C. who have provided permanent and loving homes for children and youth in care.

Welcoming a child or youth into your home is such a generous act of compassion. I know that everyone in the House today appreciates the work done by adoptive families. Those loving, supportive, lasting relationships help dreams come true for children and youth who really need someone to love them and for those who’ve dreamed of starting or expanding a family.

Reconciliation has unveiled the value of other ways, along with adoption, to provide culturally relevant long-term relationships for children and teens who can’t safely live with their families. Currently there are 751 children in B.C., including babies, children and teenagers, some with special needs, sibling groups — all waiting for the stability and care of a permanent family. Over the last year, 221 children and youth in care were placed for adoption. About 40 percent of B.C.’s foster children were adopted by their foster families, and 644 children and youth in care found permanency with committed relatives through the extended family program.

Thank you to all the devoted social workers who find loving and culturally appropriate homes for children. Your work changes lives. And a big thank-you to the Adoptive Families Association of B.C. for your pre- and post-adoption support services, education and training for people interested in adopting.

If you are over the age of 19, you can apply to adopt, regardless of your marital status, employment, sexual orientation, disability or home ownership. Individuals, couples or two adults together may apply to adopt children. Want to know more about adoption in B.C.? Just google “adopt B.C. kids” or go to adoptnow.ca.