There are over 100,000 children in the U.S. waiting for adoption.
International (MNN) ― The Families for Orphans Act is up for consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives. If it becomes law, it will create the Office of Orphan Policy, Development and Diplomacy.
"It will create a more organized and connected effort for the United States to get involved in orphan care around the world," said John VanValkenburg of Bethany Christians Services.
The legislation was crafted to address the need for more cooperation between organizations involved in orphan care and the need for more focus on the goal of placing children in permanent homes. Currently, the lack of a proactive and unified policy leads to actions that fail to address root problems for orphaned children, according to the Joint Council on International Children's Services.
VanValkenburg said the act is good news for 143 million children around the world who don't have permanent families.
"The government is really recognizing that it needs to take a second look at its current structure and develop a more streamlined and organized effort to help take a leadership role with this crisis," he said. "I think this is a case where we can applaud the government's efforts to streamline their efforts, and to fully utilize the resources that are currently in place to help children around the world."
The passage of the act could make grants available for Bethany's work. Bethany already works with the government in other capacities.
"We're really encouraged to see an act like this, because this mirrors a lot of the work that we're currently doing around the world," VanValkenburg said. "What the act is saying is that there needs to be efforts to preserve and to reunify families all around the world, and this act is actually going to emphasize activities that keep a child in the country of their birth."
Bethany has already worked with governments in Guatemala and China to help develop foster care and child welfare programs, VanValkenburg explained. "So for us, we're ready for the government to come alongside us in a worldwide need, to help children."
It's all a part a part of Bethany's mission "to really manifest the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting and enhancing the lives of children and families through quality social services," VanValkenburg said.
