Foster, adoptive parents deserve the recognition

If all parents loved and cared for their children, society's problems could probably be fixed in a generation.

But as child-welfare workers learn over and over, that's not the case. Drug use and other dysfunctions are commonplace behaviors that are frequently carried into the next generation. It's a major reason why Nevada and many other states are constantly building new jail cells.

But there are people working to break the cycle, and many of them were recognized on Saturday in celebration of National Adoption Day. There's an acute need for foster and adoptive parents, who are self-described as just average people with a lot of love to give. Often, that's all it takes to make a difference in a child's life.

Child-welfare workers handle several thousand cases each year in which children are in unsafe or unsuitable home environments, but there are just more than a thousand foster homes in the state. When there are no foster homes nearby, it means is that children already stressed from being taken out of their homes and away from their friends also have to adjust to new schools and communities.

Becoming a foster or adoptive parent takes a commitment and it takes time, but those who spoke Saturday said the return on that investment is great.

"If you are thinking about it, look into it. You have nothing to lose, and it's totally rewarding," said one of those parents, Polly Cavner.

If you're interested, call the Division of Child and Family Services at 1-888-423-2659.