HURRICANE W.Va. (WVDN) – Mission West Virginia is proud to announce the launch of the West Virginia Adoption Resource Exchange, a newly redesigned online platform dedicated to helping youth in foster care find loving, permanent homes. This website aims to connect prospective adoptive parents with youth who are in state custody and eligible for adoption.
The youth featured on the Adoption Resource Exchange come from diverse backgrounds, varying in age, gender, and needs. However, they all share a common dream: to find a family that will love and support them. Each child has bravely shared personal information, including their likes, dislikes, hopes, and dreams, to connect with a potential adoptive family.
“The decision to share these youth’s stories and photos online was not made lightly,” said Rachel Kinder, Frameworks Program Director of Mission West Virginia. “But we believe that the temporary exposure is a small risk compared to the lifelong impact of helping these youth find a forever family.”
This initiative builds upon the foundation laid by the West Virginia Department of Human Services, which created and maintained the adoption exchange website for many years. Recognizing this resource’s importance, Mission West Virginia has been tasked with developing and managing a new site. In doing so, we have undertaken a comprehensive redesign, enhancing its functionality and accessibility to better serve both prospective adoptive families and the youth in need of homes. These improvements aim to make it easier than ever for families to connect with youth awaiting adoption, ensuring that every child can find a loving, permanent family.
West Virginia has long struggled with a high number of youth in foster care, and many in the community are aware of the statistics. However, the Adoption Resource Exchange brings these numbers to life by highlighting the youth and their personal narratives.
“These may be youth that you know or come across in your daily life. They, like all youth, go to school, participate in hobbies and engage in the regular activities of childhood,” Kinder says. “The difference is that these youth have shared personal information, from likes and dislikes to hopes and dreams, with the faith that a potential family will feel a connection.”
The West Virginia Adoption Resource Exchange is now live and accessible to the public. Prospective adoptive parents are encouraged to visit the website to learn more about the youth available for adoption.
For more information, please visit www.adoptachildwv.org or contact Adoption Resource Exchange Developer, Cheryl Salamacha, at csalamacha@missionwv.org or by phone at 304-562-0723.
About Mission West Virginia:
Mission West Virginia transforms the lives of youth and families by recruiting foster families, providing life skills education, and fostering community connections. Our vision is “One people, one state, working together to provide every child with a loving family and the knowledge to make positive choices for a healthier future.”
