Adoptions brighten holidays for area couples

The Schrank family of Fairborn is expanding by three now that their adoption of three Ethiopian orphans (shown in the pictures) is complete. Susan and Jason Schrank traveled to Ethiopia on Sunday, Nov. 29, to pick up their two new daughters and a son. Their birth sons – Phillip, 15, and Andrew, 9 will wait at home with family.

Jan Underwood/Staff photographer The Schrank family of Fairborn is expanding by three now that their adoption of three Ethiopian orphans (shown in the pictures) is complete. Susan and Jason Schrank traveled to Ethiopia on Sunday, Nov. 29, to pick up their two new daughters and a son. Their birth sons – Phillip, 15, and Andrew, 9 will wait at home with family.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Kelli Wynn, Staff Writer Updated 10:46 PM Sunday, November 29, 2009

U.S. Army Maj. Jason Schrank and his wife, Susan, are traveling to Ethiopia this week to collect some special holiday packages — their three newly adopted children.

The Schranks, of Fairborn, have two biological sons — Phillip, 15, and Andrew, 9 — but wanted to expand their family.

Jeff and Kate Wagner, of Beavercreek, got their special gifts earlier this year with the adoption of two brothers.

“I felt like (the holidays) had a lot more meaning to me when we had a child in the house,” Kate Wagner said.

The Wagners became foster-to-adopt parents last year through Montgomery County Children Services. This summer, the couple adopted 3-year-old Nick and 1-year-old Riley.

The Schranks, both 39, were to leave for Ethiopia on Sunday, Nov. 29, to pick up their daughters Yordanos, 13, and Fortuna, 10, and their son, Girma, 7, from orphanages there.

While these couples are looking forward to spending the holidays with their children, there remains a need for more adoptive parents.

Locally, there are at least 70 children in the custody of Montgomery County Children Services and at least 34 children under the guardianship of Greene County Children Services available for adoption. Statistics were unavailable for Warren County.

The number of children waiting to be adopted last year in Greene County increased slightly from 40 in 2007 to 42 in 2008. Montgomery County also saw a slight increase from 115 in 2007 to 118 in 2008.

Ohio has seen a twofold increase in the number of children statewide awaiting adoption. As of Sept. 30, there were 3,280 children in the state waiting to be adopted, compared to 1,628 children in 2008, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Holidays are especially difficult for children awaiting adoption or in foster care, said Ann Stevens, spokeswoman for Montgomery County Children Services. “Their lives are not normal by the rest of society’s standards,” Stevens said.

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