Photo: (Left to right) Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services Executive Director Dierdre McCool, U.S. Sen. James Lankford and Deaconess Child Placement Supervisor Heather Hails
U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, publicly congratulated Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services for winning a Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angels in Adoption award. This award is given annually to individuals, couples and organizations that have made contributions on behalf of children in need of families. Deaconess Executive Director Dierdre McCool and Child Placement Supervisor Heather Hails attended the Angels in Adoption dinner and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
“I am thankful Oklahoma has organizations that are committed to the service of children and families like Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption,” Lankford said. “Their support is focused on providing all who walk through their doors with caring and loving service that gives real hope to children, women and families in need. It was an honor to nominate them for this recognition. I am grateful for their service, and I congratulate them on this very well-deserved award.”
Oklahoma City-based Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption was founded in 1900 and has helped more than 12,000 expectant parents, and more than 5,500 families have been created through adoption. The organization provides counseling, direction and resources for pregnant mothers and families seeking adoption. It also provides birth parents and adoptees with assistance through adoption reunions.
Lankford is a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and participated in several events throughout the year in support of the Oklahoma Fosters Initiative. On Nov. 12, 2015, Gov. Mary Fallin announced the Oklahoma Fosters Initiative, a statewide campaign to recruit families to consider foster care. The goal to recruit at least 1,000 new foster families statewide by the end of June 2016 was met. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services announced that the number of children in state custody fell below 10,000 after the successful campaign to connect children with loving homes.
Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services is an affiliated ministry of the Butterfield Memorial Foundation and a member of the Association of Human Service Ministries.
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