Adoption provides security, permanence for children needing a home

Every child deserves more than a place to live. Every child deserves a place to belong.

This November, during National Adoption Month, we recognize the thousands of children across our country waiting for the security, love and stability of a permanent family.

As interim president and CEO of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, I deeply believe that every child deserves the opportunity to grow up surrounded by people who love, protect and believe in them.

For children entering foster care, our first priority is safely reunifying families whenever possible. Strengthening families and helping parents overcome challenges is central to our mission. But when reunification is not possible, adoption can provide another pathway to the permanency every child deserves.

Many children waiting for adoption are older youth, sibling groups or children with special needs. Too often, they wait longer for a family willing to welcome them. Yet their hopes are no different from those of any other child: to be loved, encouraged, supported and accepted.

Adoption is a beautiful expression of commitment, but it also requires patience, understanding and perseverance. Children who have experienced trauma or loss need families prepared to walk alongside them through both challenges and triumphs. They need more than a promise of love. They need the daily demonstration of it.

At Lutheran Child and Family Services, our commitment extends beyond helping children find families. We believe strong families build stronger communities, and strong communities help children thrive.

This National Adoption Month, I encourage you to consider how you might make a difference. Perhaps that means exploring adoption or foster parenting. Perhaps it means supporting families already caring for vulnerable children through your church, neighborhood, workplace or community.

Not everyone is called to adopt, but everyone can play a role in helping children experience love, stability and belonging.

Because every child deserves more than a hopeful future. Every child deserves someone who will help them build one.

Melvin Faulkner, interim president & CEO, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, Oakbrook Terrace

Dear Congress

When the president urged, “pretend, please,
that I’m on the ballot,”
America listened.
In humble booths behind the curtain
And paper ballot in shaky hands:

Half a million Chicagoans punched no
To fascism and forever wars
To Christian nationalism and white supremacy
To funding apartheid and genocide
To inflation and scraping by.

May your blue wave be more than symbolic
And hold sacred your oath of office.
Like a parched wasteland,
We long for respite, justice personified
And the news that corruption has died.

Christine Anderson,  Jefferson Park

Home field

So Justin Ishbia, the owner-in-waiting of the Sox, wants to disrupt entire Chicago neighborhoods in his quest to find a new home for the Sox (and the Bears). Here’s an idea: Ishbia can move both teams north, up Sheridan Road to the $77 million eyesore of a “house” that he’s shoved down the throats of his Winnetka neighbors. Slap a dome on it, sell peanuts, and you’re in business.

David Schulze, Glenview