Building Arizona Families Domestic Adoption April 2021 Newsletter

From the Desk of Kelly Rourke-Scarry, MSW

Dear Friend,

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Last year in the United States almost 2,000 children died as a result of horrific abuse and almost THREE MILLION child protective services investigations and responses were needed.  That is 2,000 murdered children too many, and three million abused children too many.

You are probably wondering what this tough topic has to do with adoption of newborns.  My answer is… everything.  Some of the risk factors that lead to child abuse include poverty, mental illness, alcohol and drug use, too young, were victims of abuse themselves, low education levels, and weak support systems.

Sound familiar?  The at risk pregnant women we help usually have one or more of the above risk factors.  Without intervention, babies born into these circumstances are at risk for abuse.

When an at risk pregnant woman can’t effectively parent, adoption is a wonderful option to give the baby a safe, loving home and the opportunity to thrive. We also offer post adoptive services so that these vulnerable women can receive the support they need to move forward into a productive and happy future, equipped with the skills they need to succeed.

In Arizona right now, there are over 14,000 children living in the child welfare system – meaning they experienced life threatening abuse and/or neglect. To solve child abuse, the root causes must be solved.  I firmly believe that providing the beautiful option of adoption to risk pregnant women is one key way of preventing child abuse.  Can you help us prevent child abuse and help at risk pregnant women move forward to a brighter future?   $127.00 is all it takes. Or perhaps you will consider $127.00 as a recurring monthly gift, knowing that you are the reason we are serving a new pregnant woman in crisis, giving a baby a healthy, loving home, and blessing a family praying for a baby.

It’s time that we go upstream and address the causes of child abuse so that we can prevent it.  Please join us in helping vulnerable pregnant women get the help they need and innocent children have the lives they deserve.

If you can sponsor one vulnerable pregnant woman and protect her unborn child, you will be helping to break the cycle of child abuse and despair.  It’s hard to put a price tag on the difference just $127.00 makes.  And if that is too much, just know that every dollar counts in meeting this urgent need.  You saw the staggering number of children who are victims of life threatening child abuse in Arizona alone!  Please do what you can, we have to stand up for these vulnerable children.  And, remember that your gift of any amount is tax deductible.  Please forward the newsletter to friends and family who will join us in protecting children and helping break negative cycles for vulnerable, desperate women.

DOMESTIC/NEWBORN ADOPTION PLACEMENTS