Adoptions reached a record high in 2009 in the state.

Kudos to the state department of human resources for its more rigorous effort to recruit more adoptive and foster parents.

This year 676 children were adopted through the state’s adoption system, which topped the record set the year before of 412 adoptions.

Locally, nine children found permanent homes this year, five have been finalized and the other four are waiting on a final decree.

Pike County Health Department officials were pleased with these numbers since the county is a smaller county.

The state is gearing up to kick off a massive campaign to encourage more families to become adoptive or foster parents.

We believe this is a worthwhile cause, as children deserve a place to call home and a family to love them.

According to the state department’s Web site, there are more than 6,000 children in foster care, which means there are many children who need a caring and committed family to give them an optimistic future.

The Web site also says that at any given time hundreds of children are awaiting adoption.

If you are feel you could help a child in foster care by providing them a loving, nurturing home, we encourage you to sign up to become a foster parent or adoptive parent.

You could change a child’s life forever.