Senator Lankford Congratulates OKC Nonprofit for Winning ‘Angels in Adoption’ Award

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today congratulated one the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Angels in Adoption award winner, the Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services, which is located in Oklahoma City. This award is given annually to individuals, couples and organizations that have made contributions on behalf of children in need of families. On behalf of the organization, Deaconess Executive Director Dierdre McCool and Child Placement Supervisor Heather Hails attended the Angels in Adoption dinner and awards ceremony in Washington, DC on Wednesday evening. 

“I am thankful Oklahoma has organizations that are committed to the service of children and families like Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption,” said Lankford. “Their support is focused on providing all who walk through their doors with caring and loving service that gives real hope to children, women and families in need. It was an honor to nominate them for this recognition. I am grateful for their service, and I congratulate them on this very-well deserved award.”

Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption was founded in 1900 and has helped more than 12,000 expectant parents and more than 5,500 families have been created through adoption. The organization provides counseling, direction and resources for pregnant mothers and families seeking adoption. They also provide birth parents and adoptees with assistance through adoption reunions.

Lankford is a member of CCAI and participated in several events throughout the year in support of the Oklahoma Fosters Initiative. On November 12, 2015, Governor Mary Fallin announced the Oklahoma Fosters Initiative, a statewide campaign to recruit families to consider foster care. Their goal to recruit at least 1,000 new foster families statewide by the end of June 2016 was met. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services announced that the number of children in state custody fell below 10,000 after the successful campaign to connect children with loving homes. 

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