On behalf of orphaned children all over the world...

Call to Action

On January 12 in the course of only 2 minutes thousands of Haitian children became orphans. Without a say in the matter, these children became part of a global crisis – an estimated 30 million children growing up without parents -- vulnerable to slavery, prostitution, gangs, exploitation, and trafficking. These children need loving, permanent families, yet our government has no focus on finding families for orphaned children worldwide. We must act now to help children worldwide grow up with parents!

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have before them The Families for Orphans Act; a bi-partisan bill that would create a State Department office and more importantly a “Champion for Orphans” specifically to speak up for these children. This Champion and the Office would build capacity in countries toenable families to raise their children at home instead of putting them in orphanages, or be adopted by loving parents first in their own country or else in another.

Growing up in a family is a basic human right. The United States has a rich and successful history of protecting such rights all over the world. When we have stepped forward to provide leadership in an area of great social need, the difference has been measurable. The orphans of the world need this type of leadership and they need it now.

What Can You Do?

Call, write a letter or e-mail to your Members of Congress asking them to become Co-Sponsors of the Families for Orphans Act. You can find your Representative atwww.house.gov and your Senators at www.senate.gov. Feel free to use the following text as a guideline:“As one of your constituents I am requesting that you support the “Families for Orphans Act” and become a Co-Sponsor of the legislation now. We would be better prepared to respond to the needs of orphans in Haiti if the leadership it calls for was already in place. We hope you will consider standing up for the millions of children around the world growing up in orphanages without the love and support of a permanent family. For information on becoming a Co-Sponsor, please contact Senators Landrieu or Inhofe or Representatives Watson or Boozman.”

Call, write or email the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee and ask them to move quickly to pass the Families for Orphans Act.

Please help us move this bill NOW and give children worldwide a greater chance to grow up in a family. On behalf of the children, we thank you for helping.