YATOM: The Jewish Foster & Adoption Network

Adoption is Saving Lives November is National Adoption Month, and it is time to celebrate more than five million Americans who have found their families through adoption. I am one of those individuals, as I was adopted from China at three years old. For me, adoption completely changed the trajectory of my life, which is something that I'm extremely grateful for. I would not be where I am today if it were not for my adoptive parents traveling over 7,000 miles to bring me home to Wisconsin. With over 355,000 children in foster care as of 2023, it is crucial to have families who will provide them with loving homes. Unfortunately, over 20,000 children live their adolescent years without finding a forever home, which results in them aging out of the system. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eqyPKMvT #fostercare #adoption #childwelfare #foster #yatom #youth #family

Powerful New PSAs Showcase the Mutual Rewards and Unconditional Love of Adoption from Foster Care Today, the Ad Council, partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and AdoptUSKids, is proud to announce the launch of heartfelt new public service advertisements (PSAs). The new work, created pro-bono by Edelman, aims to inspire prospective adoptive parents to consider adopting a teen from foster care. The longstanding campaign is celebrating 20 years of impact this year and has contributed to the more than one million children and youth adopted from the U.S. foster care system since the program began in 2004. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gKA_YT3H #fostercare #adoption #childwelfare #foster #yatom #youth #family

Interested in Adoption or Foster Care? Need Support? The process to adopt and/or foster a vulnerable child can be arduous and frustrating. The YATOM Family Fellowship inspires hope and provides support through education, creating community and financial support. If you're Jewish, with an interest in adopting or fostering a child, and you haven't yet started the adoption/foster process, we invite you to join a supportive network of families committed to foster care/adoption. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dCBf8Q9p #adoption #childwelfare #youth #foster #fostercare #yatom #family

Foster Youth Deserve Better Than Unsafe, Scary Housing When I was 19, New York City's foster care system found me a spot in what it calls supportive housing. I was so excited to finally have my own space after being shuffled around in the system since I was 15. But my hopes for a happy, new, independent life would soon be dashed. I am not alone. Within six years of aging out of the system, studies have shown one-quarter of foster youth will experience homelessness. A report published by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development earlier this year found that the City's rental vacancy rate was 1.4%, leaving foster youth with excruciatingly limited housing options. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e2KsG7hu #youth #yatom #foster #fostercare #adoption #family #childwelfare #housing #housingcrisis

USDA Bans School Lunch Fees for Low-Income Families The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals cannot be charged processing fees beginning in 2027! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eXbGUWut #family #youth #yatom #fostercare #childwelfare #adoption #foster #freelunch #FreeLunches

A White House Proclamation on National Adoption Month Every child deserves to know the unconditional love of a permanent home. During National Adoption Month, we honor all the wonderful families that grow through adoption, we remind our foster youth and adoptees that we are right by their side, and we rededicate ourselves to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. More than 100,000 children are in our Nation's foster care system awaiting the adoption that could offer them familial love, a lasting home, and a stable foundation for them to grow. That is why I have called on the Congress to make the adoption tax credit fully refundable, lowering the cost of adoption and giving families and legal guardians some breathing room. I have also called on the Congress to provide housing vouchers to all 20,000 youth exiting foster care annually - a key step in helping them secure stable housing during this difficult transition. To further support kinship caregivers, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule last year that requires States to provide them with the same level of financial support that other foster parents receive. My Administration is also working to eliminate barriers LGBTQI+ families face in the adoption process and ensure LGBTQI+ foster youth grow up in safe and loving environments. And through the expanded Military Parental Leave Program, we are giving service members more time to spend with their families after a child is born, adopted, or placed in their homes for long-term foster care. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eRTZA6Jx

Today is Election Day! Voting during this election is crucial to ensuring child welfare and protecting the most vulnerable people in our country! You can find a place to vote and more election resources at vote.org! Make sure to vote to protect children this election day!

Chag Sameach from YATOM! We wish you a chag of peace, prosperity, and redemption for your family and vulnerable children everywhere! #yatom #fostercare #family #youth #sukkot #sukkot2024

Looking to Adopt a Child? Fill Out Our New, Short Form! Are you a Jewish family looking to adopt a child? Are you looking to hear more about potential opportunities for adoption or fostercare? Please fill out this new, short form so we know who you are and what you'd like to do and we're best equipped to engage your family quickly if a well-aligned opportunity emerges. Click here: https://lnkd.in/eU6XUez2 #family #yatom #childwelfare #fostercare #foster #helpchildren #adoption #youth

When Forced Marriage and Human Trafficking Intersect Forced marriage occurs when one or both parties do not or cannot give consent to be married and in which there is force, fraud, or coercion. This coercion can manifest as physical, emotional, psychological, cultural, or financial abuse. It transcends age, gender, background, and geography, affecting people worldwide. Unlike arranged marriages, where both individuals agree to the marriage, forced marriages deny individuals their right to choose. In arranged marriages, families or other individuals may facilitate the match, but the final decision lies with the individuals involved. Consent is essential, regardless of how someone may label their experience. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eGfB9nc8 #childwelfare #yatom #adoption #youth #helpchildren #family #fostercare #StopChildMarriage #stopchildabusenow