Gov. Tim Kaine designated November as Adoption Awareness Month in the Commonwealth. More than 1,000 children in Virginia, he said, are waiting for permanent, loving homes.

Here in Loudoun County, 91 children are in foster care through the county’s Department of Family Services. That number has doubled in just five years, said Francie Beverage, who heads up the department’s training service.

“The goal of foster care,” Beverage said, “is to safely return children to the care of their birth parents or extended family when appropriate.”

But when that cannot happen, adoption becomes the ultimate goal for the child’s well-being, she added.

Amy and Greg Eversmeyer of Leesburg know the joys of adoption.

They adopted a newborn, Lily, a year ago through a private agency. The Eversmeyers, who have two older biological sons, feel that their family is now complete with Lily.

“We feel so fulfilled and happy that she’s with us,” said Amy, who works as an adoption social worker with the Barker Foundation. “People tell us we’re heroes for ‘saving’ Lily, but really, we feel like Lily has saved us.”

In honor of Adoption Awareness Month, the Department of Family Services and the Virginia Women Attorneys Association of Loudoun co-sponsored a local Adoption Day Ceremony on Saturday at the County Courthouse in Leesburg.

Nine Loudoun families who collectively adopted 10 infants and children were honored and recognized by Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Horne. Following the ceremony, the families were treated to a reception and a free concert in celebration of National Adoption Day.

To find out more about providing foster care for a child or adopting a child, call 703-737-8824 or e-mail Francie.Beverage at Loudoun dot gov.

Or make plans to attend the Adoption Information Fair at Dulles Town Center on Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Representatives from the Department of Family Services, the Virginia Women Attorneys Association, private adoption agencies and adoption attorneys will be available to answer any questions you may have about the adoption process.