Beautiful Photo Campaign Raises Adoption Awareness in a Big Way

Image via 'Together We Care' Facebook embed

In the United States, there are close to 400,000 children in the foster care system. Over 100,000 of those children are available to be adopted, but over 32 percent will spend up to three years waiting in foster care before they eventually are. Many social service providers are worried that families are uninterested/afraid to get involved in foster care, which is why some created a beautiful new photo campaign designed to bust stereotypes: Together We Rise.

“Together We Rise” features videos and photos of youth in the foster care system, focusing in on the big day: adoption day. Instead of highlighting trauma narratives, “Together We Rise” focuses on children’s strengths. The goal is to move people away from the idea that foster care youth are beyond help, beyond reach, beyond compassion. Instead of flying halfway across the world to adopt a baby (who may or may not have been acquired legally), the campaign encourages parents to consider adopting and caring for children right here at home.

Over 20,000 children age out of the foster care system every year without ever finding a home. These children are at disproportionate risk of homelessness, incarceration, and unemployment. “Together We Rise” hopes to bring voice to an issue and a population that needs care. The pictures are a great start.

(Via: Upworthy)