By: U.S. Senator Deb Fischer
Nearly 400,000 American children don’t have a mom or dad. Worldwide, more than 17 million orphans have lost both parents. Thankfully, there are also millions of adults who open their hearts and homes to these children. Adoptive parents offer their financial resources, emotional support, and unconditional love to build a new family or grow an existing one. Adopted children gain stability and permanent, caring guardians.
The decision to adopt a child isn’t an easy one. The process can be long, emotionally draining, and financially demanding. Part of the reason for the rigorous application procedure is to ensure children are placed in safe homes – a worthy and necessary goal. The last thing a traumatized or vulnerable child needs is to be placed with abusive or negligent guardians.
Once a child is brought home, adoptive parents face the same challenges all parents face. My brother and his wife adopted a child almost 32 years ago and their work raising their daughter has required the same level of commitment and sacrifice as any other parent. Parenting isn’t about biology – it’s a decision to love. As parents of three sons, and now the grandparents of three, my husband Bruce and I appreciate the unique trials of parenthood. It doesn’t matter if you have a toddler or a teenager or a tall adult son; a devoted mom or dad never stops worrying and never stops caring.
I have long believed that to have strong communities, we must work to build strong families. That includes supporting young women who become pregnant unexpectedly and making sure they have access to the information they need to make responsible decisions for the future and safety of their unborn children.
Last year, I introduced legislation to ensure family planning service projects and programs effectively promote information about adoption. The Adoption Information Act (S.1539) would require federal grant recipients to provide assurances to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding their plan to provide women with adoption literature.
Unfortunately, many individuals utilizing family planning services do not receive adequate information about this important opportunity for birth and adoptive parents. It is critical that those seeking these services are informed of all options available to them. This legislation helps make sure the option of adoption is effectively encouraged.
Another way I am working to support adoption is by highlighting success stories in Nebraska. Recently, I nominated the McNally family of Neligh, Nebraska to receive the annual congressional “Angels in Adoption” award. Joe McNally is an attorney and his wife Jill is a physical therapist. They started out as foster parents and in April of 2014, they began the process to adopt three siblings they were fostering.
The family has done an extraordinary job transitioning these three children into their home – all while staying active in their community. They’ve also worked to maintain a relationship between the children and their maternal grandmother, who previously provided care for them.
The McNallys are a beautiful example of how adoptive parents can forever change the lives of children in need of stable, loving homes. Their selflessness and devotion to these three children are an inspiration for the community of Neligh and all Nebraskans. A modest couple, Joe and Jill insist the children have enriched them more than they could ever hope to give in return.
The transition has been successful and one adoption caseworker explained that “If one were to meet the McNallys with the three children they just adopted in April, one would not know they are not their biological children.”
By shining a spotlight on this giving family, I hope to encourage more Nebraska families to consider the loving option of adoption to grow their families and enrich their lives.
I urge all Nebraskans interested in learning more about adoption opportunities to visit the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ website (http://dhhs.ne.gov/children_family_services/Pages/adoption.aspx).
Thank you for participating in the democratic process, and I’ll visit with you again next week.