29 Joy-Filled Photos Of Kids Adopted From Foster Care

There are over 100,000 kids in the U.S. foster care system awaiting adoption. That's why organizations like Together We Rise work to promote foster care adoption and support families in the midst of the process.

“Raising awareness about adoption from foster care is so important because of the many myths the majority of people believe to be true,” Together We Rise executive director, Gianna Dahlia, told The Huffington Post.

“People believe that these may be 'bad' kids with many problems or that they can't afford it,” she added. “The truth is adoption from foster care costs close to nothing, but more importantly, these children are just children who want and deserve loving homes.”

"We brought him home from the hospital in September of 2013. He was 10 months old. His only clothing was a sleeper that the hospital had provided. The long foster process was completely worth it! We had guarded our hearts for so long, wondering if he would ever be ours. We are beyond happy to have the privilege to be his parents." - Elliott Family #fosterlove #fostercare #adoption

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on May 9, 2016 at 11:35am PDT

For the past three years, Together We Rise has been celebrating adoption by sharing joyful photos of foster kids on the day they officially became part of their “forever families.” The adoption day photos are some of their most popular Instagram posts.

Dahlia said she believes people love the photos so much because they offer a feeling of hope and accomplishment. 

“The road to adoption can be hard, but these families prove that in the end, when a child gets to be a part of a forever family, how special that moment is,” Dahlia said. “Seeing the joy on a child's face that they get to be loved and supported for the rest of their life is priceless. We can't really think of a better feeling than knowing you belong and are loved.”

"Marianna was born at 22 weeks and 1 day gestation in a not ideal situation. She was 1.5lbs at birth. From the beginning she was a fighter. The odds of her even surviving were so small. She stayed in the NICU for almost 5 months. She came home to us as soon as she was discharged from the hospital on July 15, 2013. We were really unprepared for all of the medical issues that would soon arise, partly from her being so premature. We learned to care for her as we went along. We had the best doctors and therapists anyone could ask for! July 13, 2016 she became a permanent member of our family. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. She truly is a miracle and we thank God for allowing us to be her parents! We want to encourage others who choose to foster or adopt children who are medically fragile or have development issues. Every child needs a parent who will advocate for the child's health and development needs." -Killion Family <3 togetherwerise.org #fosterlove #fostercare #togetherwerise

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Aug 18, 2016 at 6:53am PDT

Sharing adoption day photos is just one of many uplifting initiatives for Together We Rise, which aims to improve the lives of foster kids by offering resources like school supplies, bicycles, educational programs and even college scholarships. The nonprofit also educates volunteers about the issues surrounding the foster care system and provides information to foster parents about the adoption process.

“It is important not only to raise awareness for adoption from foster care but that we celebrate the families who are working hard every day to complete their forever families,” said Dahlia, adding that National Adoption Month in November is a great opportunity to do so. 

“We need to show these families that their community supports them and that the journey is worth it,” she added. “National Adoption Month is about tackling negative stereotypes and empowering more families in hopes for a better future for children still waiting for their forever family. “

Keep scrolling to see more heartwarming photos of kids adopted from foster care.

These twins just got adopted from foster care <3 !! Thank you to Marie Williams Photography for donating your services as part of our Framing Forever Program which connects photographers and adoptive parents at no cost. Get more info here if your a photographer or future adoptive parent: http://togetherwerise.org/adoption-photographer Valleau Family

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Jun 20, 2016 at 4:55pm PDT

"Kendron came to us in January 2015 at four months old from another foster home... He was originally placed in foster care from the hospital.. We did not intend on adopting when we first looked into foster care. However, we have no biological children, so when the opportunity presented itself with our first foster son (now 5), we jumped at it. When we were asked to adopt Kendron, we knew this was how we were meant to build our family. My advice: we often hear that someone can't do foster care because "they would just get too attached." My response to that is, yes you will get attached. However, this endeavour is not about my concern over my own attachments.. It's about making the world a better place for a little one who has no one in the world to care for them. We couldn't imagine our lives without our two boys, so yes, it is worth it!" - Garcia Family togetherwerise.org #fostercare #fosterlove

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Jun 13, 2016 at 5:33pm PDT

"He came to us malnourished and the size of a 10 month old when he was 2 years old. We opened our home exclusively for adoption from DHS, open to children who were in the system and had already had their rights terminated. He hadn't had the best of luck in his foster home that we received him from. It was hard, we were mistaken when we thought he couldn't be that difficult because he was "just a baby." He had severe food issues, showed no emotion other than anger, he would barely smile, he didn't move once he was placed somewhere and the attachment was difficult at first. But it was all worth it and oh my goodness I'd do it all over again. Benson brings so much joy, love, and laughter to our house.He has about 100 words in his vocabulary and can string together two and three word sentences, he knows his manners, and eats just about anything. He runs from the moment his feet touch the floor in the morning until he goes to sleep at night. Everyone who meets him comments on his infectious smile and how sweet and happy he is. " - Broadaway family <3 #fosterlove #fostercare #adoption

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Jun 9, 2016 at 9:14am PDT

Yes! "We adopted our sweet daughter after 585 days in foster care. She is our Joy and we have had her since she was 9 days old. We even share the same birthday. We love our sweetie and can't imagine our life without her!" - Brown Family togetherwerise.org #fostercare #fosterlove #togetherwerise

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Aug 30, 2016 at 3:14pm PDT

Yaaaassss!! Congratulations #fosterlove #fostercare #togetherwerise #adoption

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Sep 2, 2016 at 9:57am PDT

"We knew when we started our foster journey that we wanted to adopt but knew that Jin's goal was reunification. We had a few other foster children come and go as well as the birth of our first biological daughter. After months, turning to years of an up and down rollercoaster ride we were finally told we could adopt him. This little boy changed us forever. Our advice for future foster parents would be to love these children harder than you have ever loved before, because you may have taught them something they may not have felt before; how to love." #fosterlove #fostercare #fostertoadopt #togetherwerise

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Nov 16, 2016 at 10:29am PST

After 907 days of being in foster care, she has been officially Adopted <3 !!! #fostercare #fosterlove #togetherwerise

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:31pm PDT

"They came to us at 7 weeks and 7lbs from another foster family that already had 4 adopted from foster care. We did go in to foster care hoping to adopt, and got extra lucky with twins! We are so happy and in love with our complete family!" -Lewis Family #fosterlove #fostercare #togetherwerise #adoption

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Nov 9, 2016 at 1:57pm PST

Family isn't always blood. In honor of national adoption month, everyday we will highlight an adoption from the foster care system. #fosterlove #fostercare #adoption #togetherwerise

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Nov 4, 2015 at 7:24pm PST

"Justin came to us in 2014, he was 3 1/2. We tried to have a child for 14 years and had multiple failed pregnancies. We went into foster care after meeting a recruiter for the agency at the Farmers Market. It was always our intent to adopt, but we never dreamed it would be our very first placement. Justin is a whole world and we are the happiest we have ever been in our whole lives. Justin is happy 5 year old boy now with a big heart and big dreams. He's already planning to be a foster parent when he gets older! Fostering to adopt is a long hard road, but it's worth every single tear we shed. " - Lundy Family togetherwerise.org #fosterlove #fostercare #adoption #togetherwerise

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Sep 10, 2016 at 1:35pm PDT

She knows family isn't always blood. Congrats on being adopted today by the Wellendorf Family. Great phot by Olivia reed photography #foreverfamily #adoption #fosterlove #fostercare

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Aug 30, 2016 at 6:40pm PDT

Welcome home Nixon #fostercare #adoption

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Feb 7, 2015 at 10:49am PST

"Our original intent was just to adopt a sibling set that had already been terminated on. But our plans rarely ever turn out the way we planned! Gracie came to us at just 10 days old, a year and one month later her sister, Caroline, joined us. There were so many obstacles and hurdles along the way (including the Army moving us across the country). Almost three years later, we finalized on both girls!! It was all worth it. Love is always worth the risk! " - The Witt Family <3 togetherwerise.org #fosterlove #fostercare #togetherwerise

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Aug 23, 2016 at 10:00pm PDT

After 482 days in foster care, she has found her forever family. #fosterlove #fostercare

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on May 30, 2016 at 1:26pm PDT

She got adopted today. It might have taken 2 years but for the rest of her life she will have a forever family #fostercare

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Mar 2, 2015 at 6:02pm PST

Every journey is different but every journey is worth it! "The way he came without any strings attached is still a mystery to us and everyone who encounters his huge personality. We can only chalk it up to how much God loves us and wanted to bless us with a son, who though not born by us; has always been ours." - The Osei Family #fosterlove #togetherwerise #foreverfamily

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Sep 8, 2016 at 8:57am PDT

Congratulations on your FOREVER FAMILY!! "We love fostering but we were beyond thrilled when we found out these two would be ours forever. We were excited to find out that we would be able to raise the two and extend our love, support, and stability that they have always longed for. Being a foster parent is very hard but it super rewarding and worth every second. We have never experienced anything like this and we are so happy to have experienced this journey. We strive tolove them the best we can and cherish every moment we get with all of our children. After all it might just be the only true love they ever experience." -Oakley Family #fosterlove #fosterlove #fostertoadopt #togetherwerise

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Nov 21, 2016 at 10:18am PST

"He came to us when he was 5 days old and after 551 days in foster care, he has officially joined our FOREVER FAMILY" - Ivy Family <3 togetherwerise.org

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on May 23, 2016 at 8:44pm PDT

After 965 days in #fostercare , he has finally found his forever family #fosterlove You're never to old to be adopted.

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Apr 6, 2016 at 7:22am PDT

Amazing ! #fostercare

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Feb 5, 2014 at 6:52am PST

This just in!! 4 siblings in foster care adopted together after they were separated. #fostercare

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Mar 10, 2015 at 10:47am PDT

On December 19th, they became brothers Family isn't always blood. #fostercare #togetherwerise #fostertoadopt

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Jan 10, 2015 at 10:03am PST

Yesterday this happened ! Yesterday this happened ! Four people in our office are going to adopt from foster care and every time we get these it just makes us more anxious for that day !Four people in our office are going to adopt from foster care and every time we get these it just makes us more anxious for that day ! #fostercareadoption #togetherwerise #fostercare #adoption

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Dec 8, 2014 at 10:11am PST

THIS JUST IN!!! She got adopted this afternoon. Yes !! We also got to take this little princess to Disneyland last year !

A photo posted by Together We Rise (@togetherwerise) on Jul 17, 2015 at 6:32pm PDT