Pictured above: Children who recently found their Forever Families! Click here to learn more about adopting from foster care.

There are over 120,000 children and teens in foster care in the U.S. who need loving, permanent forever families and approximately 1,400 in West Virginia. These are children who have experienced abuse, neglect or other serious family challenges. This month alone, KVC WV is facilitating 9 adoptions in partnership with the WV Department of Health and Human Services. On November 23, National Adoption Day, which is the Saturday before Thanksgiving, courthouses across the country will open to help families finalize their adoptions and grow in love.

Click here to learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent.

Here are some recent amazing stories of youth being adopted from foster care!

Young Girl Finds Forever Home After Being Placed with the Perfect Foster Mom

Heaven was placed in foster care when she was just 7 years old. She spent 1.5 years in two separate foster homes before being placed in the care of Darlene Hardwick just before Christmas of 2017.

From the time Heaven met Darlene, the two have been inseparable. They share so many of the same interests, including traveling, shopping, attending church and being with friends and family. Darlene states, “We both know that we are blessed and God put us together.”

Last Summer, Darlene and Heaven had a wonderful time travelling to Florida, the Cincinnati Zoo, New York City and Washington DC. They also made a trip to Dollywood and Heaven was able to fulfill her dream of meeting Dolly Parton in person!

“Heaven has given me great joy and I love the excitement in her eyes as we travel to new and old places. Life is one big adventure,” says Darlene. Heaven’s adoption was finalized on November 6, 2019!

Couple Grows Their Family by Adopting from Foster Care

September has continuously been a month of joy for Jennifer and Norman Marcum: They were married in September 2010, became foster parents in September 2016, and adopted Jonathan and James in September 2019!

Jennifer and Norman were eager to grow their family and provide love and support for children in need, which led to them becoming foster parents. They began caring for James in May 2017 and Jonathan in July 2018.

The boys are very close and love each other very much. They’re active in local sports, and the family participates in church activities with their youth group. Jonathan and James are truly loved and cherished by their whole community and have added so much joy to the Marcum family. The Marcums continue to foster with KVC and hope to provide a loving forever home to one more child in the future!

Meeting a Teen in Need Leads Couple to Adoption

Trista and Justin Jarrell became interested in fostering after meeting 13-year-old Marlee. Marlee was best friends with Trista’s younger sister, and upon learning Marlee was in foster care, the couple decided the best way to help her was to become foster parents.

After becoming certified foster parents, Marlee came to live with the Jarrells in October 2017. She became an “official” member of the Jarell family in August 2019! Marlee is now 15 and is considering a career in social work for her future. She values having a family who loves her for who she is and wants to help other children achieve this goal.

The Jarrells continue to foster children with KVC. Marlee also does her part to be as helpful as possible, and she has also volunteered to help babysit young children in foster care at several KVC events.

If you’ve ever considered adopting, one of the best ways to know if it’s the best choice for you and your family is to foster! This free checklist provides an overview of the requirements and will help you decide if you’re ready to take the next step.