Jay Rockefeller: “as a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, I have the honor and privilege each year to recognize…”

“as a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, I have the honor and privilege each year to recognize a West Virginia family for efforts to promote adoption. This is an exceptional program that highlights how policies and programs can change a child's life. In 1997, I worked on the bipartisan Adoption and Safe Families Act which sought to increase adoptions and improve foster care. Much work remains, but real progress has been made in encouraging adoptions. While policy can help, the real angels are the families who open their hearts and homes to vulnerable children. There are many wonderful stories but in 2011 I have nominated Nick and Jorun Picciano as Angels in Adoption. These caring parents already have teenage children, and they have incredibly hectic, fulfilling lives as paramedics. But they noticed that some of the children they met on the job were victims of abuse or neglect. As paramedics, they sadly saw a parent who was more interested in returning to a party than taking care of her burned child. According to their story, this was a turning point for them. They sought information about foster parenting, and they worked to find a program that would accommodate their challenging schedules. Nick and Jorun were approved and welcomed a toddler into their home in 2009.…”