Families Coming Together Through Adoption

The North Dakota Department of Human Services is honoring families that have been brought together through adoption. They are also recognizing birth parents, adoption advocates and children in North Dakota's foster care system who are waiting to be adopted. Adoption Services Administrator Julie Hoffman says its important to recognize these families and children. (Julie Hoffman/Adoption Services Administrator) "We just think it's really important because adoption touches people in their lives, almost everyone, you either know someone who is adopted, know someone who relinguished a child for adoption. It just touches so many of our lives. So, this is a special day to honor that." Youth Excellence Award winner, Josiah Westman lived in foster care for 10 years before being adopted in 2000. While growing up in the Westman house, he lived with and mentored between 15-20 foster kids. (Josiah Westman/Adopted) "Some of these kids that are in foster care they come from rough lives. There is a reason they are in foster care. Adoption and foster care gives them a better place than what they were in and gives them a fair chance." There were 322 adoptions that took place last year in North Dakota. To learn more about adoption and foster care, call the North Dakota Department Human Services' at the number on your screen.