Walk raises awareness for adoption
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/23/2009
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November is Adoption Awareness Month, and the focus of this month is the adoption of children in foster care.
Many organizations aim to help support adoption, like Families Supporting Adoption, which seeks to promote a positive view of adoption.
Sara Hayman is a co-chairperson for the organization in Indiana. She helped organize an Adoption Awareness Walk that took place Saturday.
One member in the crowd at the walk was Brian Dillman, an associate professor in aviation technology and former Purdue student.
Dillman has two biological children, as well as four others he has adopted through foster care. The children range in age from 2 to 13.
When he and his wife first decided to become foster parents, they hoped the children they fostered would eventually end up back with their parents. However, if they did not, the Dillmans always considered the possibility of adoption.
“We had about 16 kids come through the house, many of which went back with their families or to other foster homes,” Dillman said.
Although the Dillmans wanted to help every child, not every one was a perfect fit with the family.
“Whatever child we brought into our home, we made sure he or she was younger than our current children,” he said. “We wanted to make sure everyone was safe and that it was a good mix.”
One reason the Dillmans were interested in adoption was that Dillman’s mother was a caseworker. They were also influenced by a trip they took with their church to Haiti.
Dillman recounted the trials he and his wife had to go through to become qualified to serve as foster parents, including 24 hours of training by a caseworker, home inspections and water checks, just to name a few.
“They are all like brother and sister at this point, and they fight like it,” Dillman said.
When asked if he plans to adopt again, he said: “No, not now.”
However, he added, smiling: “But who knows?”