Thousands of Children Across the United States Are Waiting for a Permanent, Safe Family: Iowans For Adoption Wants America to Pay Attention
- Dr. Diana Lang
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
by Diana L. Lang, Ph.D.
Executive Director/Founder
Across the United States, thousands of children and youth are waiting for something every child deserves: a safe, stable, permanent family. ❤️🏡 Children enter foster care because of circumstances they did not create, often involving abuse, neglect, or unsafe living conditions. For some, foster care becomes a long journey marked by separation from siblings, multiple placements, trauma, uncertainty, and years of waiting. Some ultimately age out of foster care without the permanent family they hoped for.
For children who have lost their legal relationship with every parent and become legally available for adoption, the waiting does not necessarily end. They are still waiting for a permanent, safe, stable family.
A National Crisis With a Local Call to Action
This national issue is at the heart of the From Hope to Home Gala, taking place Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa.
Hosted by Iowans for Adoption, the Gala is designed to raise awareness, educate the public, connect families with resources, and generate support for programs that help children and families move toward permanency.
“This is bigger than one event or one state. It is an opportunity for everyone across the nation to ask a very important question: What can each of us do to help a child move to a permanent, safe, loving family?”— Dr. Diana Lang, Executive Director/Founder
Although the Gala is being held in Iowa, the need for more foster and adoptive parents, family support, and permanency exists across America.
💜 How Support Can Make a Difference
Funds and community support generated through the Gala will help advance efforts focused on:
🏡 Assisting with adoption finalization expenses
❤️ Supporting children waiting in foster care
👨👩👧👦 Recruiting foster and adoptive families
🧭 Helping families navigate foster care and adoption
📚 Providing family navigation, education, and adoption resources
👶 Educating the public about Iowa's Safe Haven Act
🤝 Reducing barriers that can prevent children from reaching permanency
🌟 From Hope to Home Gala
The evening will bring together community members, advocates, businesses, families, and supporters who believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, loving, permanent home.
Event Details
WHAT: From Hope to Home Gala
WHEN: Thursday, September 17, 2026
TIME: 6:00–8:30 p.m.
GARDEN STROLL: 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Reiman Gardens, Ames, Iowa
TITLE SPONSOR: Iowa Farm Bureau
HOSTED BY: Iowans for Adoption and The National Center for Adoption
Guests will enjoy:
🍽️ Dinner🎤 Guest speakers🌿 A stroll through Reiman Gardens💜 Opportunities to support children and families📚 Education about foster care, adoption, permanency, and the Safe Haven Act
🙌 Everyone Can Help a Child
You do not have to become a foster or adoptive parent to make a difference. Individuals, families, businesses, churches, organizations, and community groups can help by:
📣 Sharing accurate information about foster care, adoption, and the Safe Haven Act
🏡 Learning about becoming a foster or adoptive family
🎟️ Attending or supporting the From Hope to Home Gala
🤝 Becoming an event sponsor
🎁 Donating auction or raffle items
💰 Making a financial contribution
📚 Connecting families with reliable foster care and adoption resources
One conversation can change a family's path. One donation can remove a barrier. One family can change a child's entire future.
❤️ Every Child Deserves a Place to Call Home
Statistics can make the foster care and adoption crisis feel distant. But behind every number is a child.
A child waiting.
A child hoping.
A child who deserves to know where they belong.
The goal of From Hope to Home is simple: shine a light on children waiting for permanency and inspire individuals, families, businesses, and communities to take action.
Because every child deserves more than a temporary place to stay.
Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable, permanent family. 🏡❤️
