‘A Home for the Holidays’ on CBS to Promote Adoption

“The 8th Annual A Home for the Holidays with Rod Stewart” will be broadcast tomorrow night, Friday, December 22, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on CBS.

This year's special continues to tell pre-taped stories about adoption to raise awareness of the more than 119,000 children in the United States foster care system who are waiting for adoptive families.

Their stories are framed by musical performances from Rod Stewart, Five for Fighting, John Legend, Katharine McPhee and Mary Mary. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A SAMPLE OF THE SHOW

Comedian Cedric the Entertainer ("Charlotte's Web"), Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana"), Angie Harmon ("Law & Order"), Melina Kanakaredes ("CSI: NY"), Rene Russo ("The Thomas Crown Affair") and Jeri Ryan ("Shark") present inspirational stories about adoption.

The segments about adoption include:

The Arguilez Family (San Diego) -- Nine-year-old Ricky and his six-year-old sister Isabella had lived in five different foster homes by the time they appeared on THE 7TH ANNUAL A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS in 2005. 

"We had been waiting a long time… I worried we might get separated," said Ricky. 

But the siblings' long wait was finally over when Richard and Gloria Arguilez saw them on the special last year and immediately moved forward to adopt them. 

The White Family (Texarkana, Texas) -- Victor and Dawn White adopted their first daughter, Jimisha, in 2004. 

"I don't think I started living until I met my parents," said Jimisha. 

With the success of their first adoption, the Whites turned to the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program to find their second daughter, Myricle. 

"I knew I had met people that really loved me," said Myricle.  This holiday season, the Whites chose to complete their family by adopting their third daughter, two-year-old Jalaia.

The Mills Family (Los Angeles) -- In 1996, Erin Mills became a mentor to Krystine, a nine-year-old girl who came from a troubled home.  Over the next several years, as Krystine's home life deteriorated, her relationship with Erin strengthened.  When Krystine was finally placed in foster care as a teenager, Erin received permission to adopt the little girl she loved. 

"Before, I didn't feel worthwhile," said 19-year-old Krystine.  "With my mom, Erin, I know I am worth something, even worth saving."

Children Waiting -- There are over one half million children currently in foster care in the United States.  This segment gives voice to these numbers by creating an intimate portrait of children who need permanent, loving homes. 

Musical performances include:

Rod Stewart performs "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," "I'll Stand By You" and "It's A Heartache."

Five for Fighting singer and songwriter John Ondrasik performs his hit song "The Riddle.”

John Legend performs "Save Room.”

American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Gospel duo Mary Mary perform the holiday favorite, "'Tis the Season." 

Comments

[Erin]

This is disgusting. Why promote adoption? Whatever happened to putting children back with their families and offering those families resources and counselling. Are our systems that cheap? Of course they are since they meet quotas for any child they place up for adoption. They (CPS) don't educate potential parents about the issues with adoption. What has our world come to? More education is needed, counselling, etc.

[Kay]

Hey, just remember, there are those of us out here who are pregnancy challenged and will take a child anywhere we can get -my husband and I are still trying! SHow a little mercy, Erin.

[Glen]

Amazing someone can be anti-adoption and characterize a pro-adoption program as disgusting. Furthermore, I don't think Adoptive Parents need CPS to "educate" us about the issues concerning adoption. Chill out Erin...

[Erin]

Typical responses from adoptive parents. Why don't you live the trauma, as I have as an adoptee or yet as a natural mother. Walk a mile in our shoes, before telling someone to chill out or have some mercy. Remember I am not allow to see my records because of laws....NOT in the best interests of me (in the best interests of the child - right). Yes, there are some adoptive parents that need to be educated because there are a lot of adoptees, including myself, who have been abused at the hands of adoptive parents like you. It's a fact amongst our community. So don't tell someone to chill out or show some mercy until you have walked a mile in someone's shoes - - a natural mother or an adoptee. Why don't you read about attachment, trauma, and adoption - - be more informed and aware! We are all entitled to our opinions and this is mine, show some mercy!

[DKB]

For Erin, I think it is terrible that the records for her adoption are closed because she is not able to have many answers that she needs. Until someone has walked in your shoes (you're right) it is impossible to completely understand.

But you have to remember that there are people out there that adopt with the purest intentions. And that there are times when reunification is not possible or in the best interest of the child. We are in the process of a foster-adopt at this moment, and for our child to be with her parents would mean a life surrounded by drugs, gangs, crime, and complete instability. I wish her parents could have gotten themselves together for her sake and theirs. But it is a hard road for them too. Leaving behind a life they are so accustomed to is no easy task especially when addiction has such a grip on them.

I think many people want to raise adoption awareness because a lot people think about adoption but are intimidated and don't always know how to begin. On the superficial side of it, I think Hollywood is on a major band wagon, that will sadly pass as a trend. Unfortunately, in the meantime it attracts perhaps some of the wrong type of people to adopt, people who might not be committed to it for the rest of their lives.

As for me, it has been a dream of mine to adopt from the time I was a young girl. I don't think I'll do it perfectly, but I sure will give it my all to do it well.

Mercy? Mercy it is. You deserve it. You might not get the answers you want, but you are worth the answers you need. I hope God gives you peace in your heart over the things you have experienced.

[rhonda]

Erin, I have adopted all three of my children as a single parent, they were all infants, I am now the proud mother of a 13 year old son,a 7 year old daughter, and a 4 year old son. I thank God everyday for them, and we are all adoption advocates. I am sorry that you had such a sad experience, but don't judge all adoptive parents,most of us, beleive our children are a gift from God , a true blessing.

[michelle taylor]

I'm am now a Froster Parent in a agancy it has taken me so long to get a child place in my home i became very discouraged as a single froster mother. How long its taken me to recieve a child to care for and make a new home for.Because i read about how children needed a home for the holiday and forever and just reading the commment posted by DKB she gave me hope that it doesnt matter if im a single mother wanting to care for foster children and want to adopt.