Lewis Pledges To Raise Awareness For Adoption

A release from the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange:

For the month of November Senator Jason Lewis is hosting a portrait of Alexandrea, a foster child seeking adoption. The Senator has pledged his support of National Adoption Month and is hosting the portrait as part of the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange’s (MARE) Waiting Child Portrait Project.

Senator Lewis is one of 65 Massachusetts legislators participating in this innovative campaign to raise awareness about the need for adoptive parents throughout the state. This National Adoption Month, Lewis is hosting a portrait of Alexandrea, a sweet teenager who loves expressing her creativity through art and is looking for a loving forever family. Senator Lewis has placed Alexandrea’s portrait in his office on Beacon Hill for constituents and guests to see.

“We are truly grateful for support from legislators from both sides of the aisle for recognizing the need to support these waiting children living in foster care,” said Lisa Funaro, Executive Director of MARE. “These little constituents represent a segment of our population who may not always be visible. Through the efforts of state representatives, senators and even Governor Baker, we are making it clear that they need love and support not only from families, but from lawmakers as well.”

In Massachusetts, nearly 2,800 children currently in foster care have the goal of adoption, and more than 850 of those children have no relative or other potential adopter. Older, school-aged children, sibling groups, children of color and/or children with special needs tend to wait the longest for families. MARE works to connect these waiting children with families; all while helping to support the process, providing education and delivering necessary resources.

Prospective adoptive parents can be almost any age (18+); single, partnered, married, LGBTQ; homeowners or renters; experienced parents or new to parenting. Families of various income levels can adopt, as long as they have a stable source of income to support a child. There are no fees to adopt a child from foster care.

MARE is a private, non-profit organization, founded in 1957 with a mission of finding homes for children and teens in foster care. For more information about the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, or to learn how you can become an adoptive parent, volunteer or other resource, please visit mareinc.org or call 617-964-6273.

Courtesy photo of Jason Lewis with portrait of Alexandrea