WHEREAS, All children deserve a permanent, safe, and stable home, a place where they can realize their full potential; and
     WHEREAS, Each year, thousands of children in foster care wait for their "forever family," permanent families to provide stability, unconditional love, patience, and understanding; and
     WHEREAS, Children of color are disproportionately represented in the foster care system, especially African-American children; and
     WHEREAS, The average time a child spends in foster care before being adopted is 7.9 years, according to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System; and
     WHEREAS, Every year, National Adoption Day brings together communities, judges, attorneys, and child advocates to finalize adoptions for waiting children in all 50 states; and
     WHEREAS, Since 1896, Children's Home Society of Washington has placed more than 30,000 children in permanent adoptive homes; and
     WHEREAS, Children's Home Society of Washington has evolved from an adoption agency to a nationally recognized leader in prevention-based family support services; and
     WHEREAS, In 2006, Children's Home Society of Washington partnered with the Division of Children and Family Services to finalize 14 adoptions on National Adoption Day; and
     WHEREAS, The counties of Chelan, Clallam, Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, Whatcom, and Yakima participated in National Adoption Day festivities;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize the valuable role of adoptive parents, providing a child with a safe and nurturing family of his or her own when birth parents cannot; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Sharon Osborne, president and CEO of Children's Home Society of Washington.