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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview with Nancy Hudson, Dave Camp

Aired November 22, 2003 - 07:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Most children in foster care will spend years waiting in vain for a permanent place to call home. Today is National Adoption Day. That's part of the nationwide efforts to improve the situation.
And joining us from Washington is Congressman Dave Camp of the Congressional Coalition of Adoption and Nancy Hudson, who is adopting two daughters today, Ashley and Sarah (ph).

It's wonderful to have all of you with us today.

Thank you very much for being with us this morning.

NANCY HUDSON, FOSTER PARENT: Good morning.

REP. DAVE CAMP (R), MICHIGAN: Good morning.

SAVIDGE: That's a family, Nancy, and it's wonderful to hear.

Tell us about how first you became a foster parent and why.

HUDSON: I became a foster parent about two and a half years ago to the girls. Sorry they're a little wild. They're excited about being on TV. And I've always wanted to be a foster parent and to adopt. I am...

SAVIDGE: Nancy, you know what? I'm going to have you stop just for a second, only because your microphone has come loose. And we'll get that fixed.

HUDSON: Oh, I'm sorry.

SAVIDGE: In the meantime, let me bring in the congressman.

Congressman, this is obviously an important day.

What is the significance of this sort of National Adoption Day?

CAMP: Well, National Adoption Day is really about trying to bring a focus to finding permanent loving homes for children. And so it's exciting. Across the country, in over 300 communities, 3,000 children are going to be adopted as a result of National Adoption Day and it really is a positive thing and it's very exciting. And it's great to see Nancy with her children here today.

SAVIDGE: Well, and we hear that Nancy is coping with a newfound family there, Nancy. HUDSON: Yes.

Sorry about that.

SAVIDGE: That's quite all right. I know where you're at.

Tell us what made you first become a foster parent?

HUDSON: I have always wanted to be a foster parent. I think when I was probably quite young I read a book about somebody who became a foster parent and the folks have a lot of influence in my life. So I've always wanted to be a foster parent and adopt, so I got the opportunity and I'm quite happy to do it.

SAVIDGE: What have been the difficulties for you?

HUDSON: Well, I think I face the same difficulties most single parents do. I'm a single parent. And dealing with time management and, you know, just the normal stuff of getting through life. And working and managing the kids.

Sorry, yes, sweetie.

Why don't you look this way?

SAVIDGE: That's all right.

HUDSON: I'm sorry.

SAVIDGE: Congressman, let me ask you this, what are some of the most common myths that people have when it comes to adoption? I mean I think there are a lot of misperceptions that are out there.

CAMP: Well, first of all, everything we've been trying to do in the Congress at the federal level has been to try to make adoption easier with the tax credits and assistance and certainly highlighting the problem with the Adoption and Safe Families Act. There's a half a million children in foster care and really trying to find loving, permanent homes for those children has really been the focus.

And I think one of the myths is that there really aren't children available for adoption. And clearly through foster care there are many, many children who need loving homes. And everything we're trying to do about today is to highlight that and really find families. And I think that'll be a very positive thing.

SAVIDGE: Nancy, let me ask you here, you were a foster parent but when it came to being an adopted parent, did you think you really had a chance?

HUDSON: No, I didn't, actually. I had always wanted to adopt, but I didn't think I had much of a chance. But when I became a foster parent I found out that I could adopt. And I thought that was amazing because single people in the world are not able to do it.

SAVIDGE: Well, now you are facing the real challenges of parenthood.

HUDSON: Yeas.

SAVIDGE: And we're listening to them.

HUDSON: I'm facing challenges some days, yes.

SAVIDGE: We're listening to Sarah and Ashley there.

It is wonderful to see all of you together there and today.

HUDSON: Yes, they're very excited to be here today.

SAVIDGE: They are. And they should be.

HUDSON: Yes.

CAMP: It's a very exciting day, not only for them, but for all of us.

HUDSON: But it's exciting, also, because tomorrow is Sarah's third birthday, so we're having a birthday celebration. My whole family is in town for the adoption and we'll be able to celebrate her birthday together, as well.

SAVIDGE: Well, congratulations to her. Congratulations to you.

I mean in a world that seems to be so short on positive news these days, it is wonderful to be able to tell your story.

HUDSON: Yes.

SAVIDGE: Thank you all for coming in today.

HUDSON: Thank you very much.

CAMP: Thank you very much.

HUDSON: Thank you.

SAVIDGE: We want to tell you more, that if you are considering adoption, there are a number of Web sites that may be of help. We'll show you the addresses on the screen right now. The National Adoption Center, Adopt Us Kids, Adopt America Network and the North American Council on Adoptable Children.

It is the greatest challenge and the greatest joy you will ever face in life.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 22, 2003 - 07:46   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Most children in foster care will spend years waiting in vain for a permanent place to call home. Today is National Adoption Day. That's part of the nationwide efforts to improve the situation.
And joining us from Washington is Congressman Dave Camp of the Congressional Coalition of Adoption and Nancy Hudson, who is adopting two daughters today, Ashley and Sarah (ph).

It's wonderful to have all of you with us today.

Thank you very much for being with us this morning.

NANCY HUDSON, FOSTER PARENT: Good morning.

REP. DAVE CAMP (R), MICHIGAN: Good morning.

SAVIDGE: That's a family, Nancy, and it's wonderful to hear.

Tell us about how first you became a foster parent and why.

HUDSON: I became a foster parent about two and a half years ago to the girls. Sorry they're a little wild. They're excited about being on TV. And I've always wanted to be a foster parent and to adopt. I am...

SAVIDGE: Nancy, you know what? I'm going to have you stop just for a second, only because your microphone has come loose. And we'll get that fixed.

HUDSON: Oh, I'm sorry.

SAVIDGE: In the meantime, let me bring in the congressman.

Congressman, this is obviously an important day.

What is the significance of this sort of National Adoption Day?

CAMP: Well, National Adoption Day is really about trying to bring a focus to finding permanent loving homes for children. And so it's exciting. Across the country, in over 300 communities, 3,000 children are going to be adopted as a result of National Adoption Day and it really is a positive thing and it's very exciting. And it's great to see Nancy with her children here today.

SAVIDGE: Well, and we hear that Nancy is coping with a newfound family there, Nancy. HUDSON: Yes.

Sorry about that.

SAVIDGE: That's quite all right. I know where you're at.

Tell us what made you first become a foster parent?

HUDSON: I have always wanted to be a foster parent. I think when I was probably quite young I read a book about somebody who became a foster parent and the folks have a lot of influence in my life. So I've always wanted to be a foster parent and adopt, so I got the opportunity and I'm quite happy to do it.

SAVIDGE: What have been the difficulties for you?

HUDSON: Well, I think I face the same difficulties most single parents do. I'm a single parent. And dealing with time management and, you know, just the normal stuff of getting through life. And working and managing the kids.

Sorry, yes, sweetie.

Why don't you look this way?

SAVIDGE: That's all right.

HUDSON: I'm sorry.

SAVIDGE: Congressman, let me ask you this, what are some of the most common myths that people have when it comes to adoption? I mean I think there are a lot of misperceptions that are out there.

CAMP: Well, first of all, everything we've been trying to do in the Congress at the federal level has been to try to make adoption easier with the tax credits and assistance and certainly highlighting the problem with the Adoption and Safe Families Act. There's a half a million children in foster care and really trying to find loving, permanent homes for those children has really been the focus.

And I think one of the myths is that there really aren't children available for adoption. And clearly through foster care there are many, many children who need loving homes. And everything we're trying to do about today is to highlight that and really find families. And I think that'll be a very positive thing.

SAVIDGE: Nancy, let me ask you here, you were a foster parent but when it came to being an adopted parent, did you think you really had a chance?

HUDSON: No, I didn't, actually. I had always wanted to adopt, but I didn't think I had much of a chance. But when I became a foster parent I found out that I could adopt. And I thought that was amazing because single people in the world are not able to do it.

SAVIDGE: Well, now you are facing the real challenges of parenthood.

HUDSON: Yeas.

SAVIDGE: And we're listening to them.

HUDSON: I'm facing challenges some days, yes.

SAVIDGE: We're listening to Sarah and Ashley there.

It is wonderful to see all of you together there and today.

HUDSON: Yes, they're very excited to be here today.

SAVIDGE: They are. And they should be.

HUDSON: Yes.

CAMP: It's a very exciting day, not only for them, but for all of us.

HUDSON: But it's exciting, also, because tomorrow is Sarah's third birthday, so we're having a birthday celebration. My whole family is in town for the adoption and we'll be able to celebrate her birthday together, as well.

SAVIDGE: Well, congratulations to her. Congratulations to you.

I mean in a world that seems to be so short on positive news these days, it is wonderful to be able to tell your story.

HUDSON: Yes.

SAVIDGE: Thank you all for coming in today.

HUDSON: Thank you very much.

CAMP: Thank you very much.

HUDSON: Thank you.

SAVIDGE: We want to tell you more, that if you are considering adoption, there are a number of Web sites that may be of help. We'll show you the addresses on the screen right now. The National Adoption Center, Adopt Us Kids, Adopt America Network and the North American Council on Adoptable Children.

It is the greatest challenge and the greatest joy you will ever face in life.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com