NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH: Cry of the Orphan Helps Families Take the Next Step in Adoption Journey

More than one-third of Americans have considered adopting, but no more than 2 percent of Americans have actually adopted. - Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway

Research indicates that some 30 percent of American families consider adoption, but more needs to be done to connect these families with the world's orphans.  November is National Adoption Month, and Cry of the Orphan is working to provide families with resources and tools to help them take the "next step" in their adoption journey.

"As an adoptive parent, I know that the first steps in the adoption process can be a bit overwhelming," said Paul Pennington of FamilyLife's Hope for Orphans and one of the leaders of the Cry of the Orphan campaign.

"As we went through our adoption process initially, we discovered there was a lack of resources and direction about adoption and orphan care written from a biblical worldview," said Pennington, who has adopted five children.  "Cry of the Orphan seeks to provide that guidance - connecting families with organizations and resources that can help them along their adoption journey."

A key part of this effort is CryoftheOrphan.org, which has tapped into the extensive resources of FamilyLife, Focus on the Family, Shaohannah's Hope (founded by award-winning musician Steven Curtis Chapman), and the organizations involved in the Christian Alliance for Orphans.  CryoftheOrphan.org is designed to help people learn about the many opportunities to help the world's 130 million orphans.  The site even includes an easy-to-use tool that provides visitors with a personalized list of ways to get involved.

Along with tips and tools to help people care for orphans and better understand God's heart on this issue, CryoftheOrphan.org is also providing more ways to explore the plight of the orphan, including an updated directory of organizations involved, a Google Earth exploration tool, and facts and stories that offer inspiration and instruction on responding to the orphan crisis.

Cry of the Orphan is not only reaching out online, but also on the air with a week of radio broadcasts focused on the orphan crisis.

Nov. 17-21: Popular radio hosts Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family and Dennis Rainey of FamilyLife Today plan to devote their daily broadcasts and combine their organizations' resources to show people how they can play an important role in responding to the world's 130 million orphans.

MEDIA NOTE: Programming details for Cry of the Orphan week on FamilyLife Today and Focus on the Family radio broadcasts are available at www.cryoftheorphan.org.