Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a proclamation dedicating February 13-19, 2022 as “Adoption Is Love Week.”
“During ‘Adoption Is Love Week,’ we recognize the many forever families across TN who have opened their hearts & homes to give our youth a permanent, safe & loving environment,” Governor Lee wrote on Twitter alongside the proclamation. “Thank you, TN adoptive families for the role you play in helping children reach their full potential.”
During “Adoption Is Love Week”, we recognize the many forever families across TN who have opened their hearts & homes to give our youth a permanent, safe & loving environment.
Thank you, TN adoptive families for the role you play in helping children reach their full potential. pic.twitter.com/us87gpo7uy
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) February 15, 2022
The proclamation, in part, states, “All children and youth deserve to grow, develop, and have their needs met by being placed with families who can offer a permanent home. … The families who have adopted and the children waiting for adoptive families deserve love, support, and acceptance from their communities and from public and private agencies”
In 2021, 1,221 Tennessee children, ranging in age from newborn to 18 years, exited foster care and were adopted into forever families, according to the proclamation. In addition, 385 Tennessee children joined forever families through the establishment of permanent guardianship in 2021.
“The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) commends the love, commitment, and care of families who have committed to caring for Tennessee’s children and their contributions to the safety and well-being of youth in Tennessee. The DCS is grateful for families who have opened their hearts and their homes to create paths to permanency through adoption and permanent guardianship,” the proclamation further states.
Proclamations by the governor are “issued at the discretion of the governor as a courtesy to Tennessee residents in order to recognize a day, week, or month for a cause of significant statewide interest,” according to the Tennessee Governor’s office.
For those interested in becoming an adoptive parent, please visit the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services website or contact your local Children’s Services Office for more information.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
