Building Peaceful Moments
December 16, 2024

December 16, 2024

Logo for CCND Insider, a newsletter. Includes a white cross, red text

Over the past few years, the Adults Adopting Special Kids (AASK) program has been a part of many changes and adjustments, allowing us to create a program full of high quality, efficient adoption procedures for our children and families! As we allow ourselves to practice all that we have implemented, we also appreciate the time when we can pause and reflect on all the moments that create peace in our world of adoption.  
One of the most fulfilling aspects of our role is supporting the children who join their adoptive family each year. While many emotions and feelings emerge with adoption, peace is certainly one that is cherished and valued. This past year, AASK helped 245 children finalize their adoption with their forever family!

November is extra special because we get to celebrate National Adoption Month! One initiative we work on year-round but focus heavily on in November, is raising awareness for children who are not yet in their adoptive home. In North Dakota, there are approximately 25-30 children who are waiting for an adoptive family at any given time. This fueled our desire to establish the Red Shoe Campaign! The Red Shoe Campaign was started as a collaborative effort between AASK the local Recruitment and Retention Coalitions in eastern North Dakota to raise awareness to the number of North Dakota children waiting in foster care to be adopted. The campaign is a reference to the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy clicks the heels on her red shoes three times exclaiming ‘there’s no place like home’. It is the campaign’s overarching goal to spread the message that there’s, truly, no place like home and that all children deserve a family to call their own. Take a peek at some of our efforts below!

While it is difficult to fully experience peace knowing children are still waiting for their forever home, we can find comfort in our continuous efforts to bring awareness to the community to learn about all of the brave, kind, and resilient children who need an adoptive home. 

We are grateful to have such an important role in a child’s life and are honored to be a small part of their life. We look forward building peaceful moments for children and families in the upcoming year! 

Written By:
Kara Eastlund
Director of Adults Adopting Special Kids

Two women smiling at a table in a studio, facing a microphone. One holds a pink drink.
Group of women smiling, posing for a photo. Some wear red
Two women stand behind a table displaying posters and materials. The table is red. Brick wall backdrop.
People holding signs about adopting kids pose in front of a truck, near a building.

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Every act of kindness has a ripple effect—one that stretches far beyond a single moment. This Giving Hearts Day, Catholic Charities North Dakota invites you to celebrate with us as we step back through the decades and honor the timeless power of generosity. Our theme, “Giving Back Through Time – Kindness Never Goes Out of Style,” reminds us that compassion has always been at the heart of our work and always will be. A Tradition of Serving North Dakotans for Over 100 Years For more than a century, CCND has been walking alongside individuals and families during their most vulnerable moments—supporting older adults, individuals with intellectual disabilities, pregnant women, children in foster care, and so many others. Your generosity each year ensures these services not only continue but grow. Why Giving Hearts Day Matters Giving Hearts Day is CCND’s second largest fundraising opportunity of the year and a moment when our entire community comes together to lift up neighbors across North Dakota. Gifts made on this day help fund critical programs—especially those with little outside funding—allowing us to reach people who may be hearing about our mission for the first time. This year, Dental Flossophy in Bismarck has pledged match dollars, meaning every Giving Hearts Day contribution goes even further to support vulnerable North Dakotans.

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