- More than 400,000 childrenmake up the foster care system

in the United States.

Experts say COVID related family issues

are likely to increase that number.

But there is good news as more families

show an interest in providinghomes for kids in need.

- Family,

family, those are only wishes I have.

- [Charlene] When this videoof a nine-year-old Oklahoma boy

named Jordan pleading for a family

during a local televisioninterview hit the web,

the story went viral.

- I got a mom and dad, or just mom.

Or just dad.

I don't really care.

- [Charlene] In just 12 hours,

thousands of inquiriespoured in to adopt the boy

who had been in foster care for six years.

The case highlights the crisis

of children stuck in the system.

- I think it's roughly about 424,000

right about now.

And roughly 125,000 of themare available for adoption.

So pre-pandemic we already had

close to half a millionkids in foster care.

- [Charlene] Kimberly Offuttof Bethany Christian Services

says lives are being disrupted,

with many seeing a risein substance abuse,

domestic violence and financial struggles.

- Pre-COVID, pre-pandemicyou were already stressing,

you were already, didn't have

the support system that you needed.

Now you add the loss of jobs,

the loss of income, trying toteach your children at home,

it's a lot of stress for our families,

so you're seeing that increase in violence

and increase in everything now.

- [Charlene] That's whyBethany's offering families

much needed support such as meals,

transportation and baby sitting,

hoping to keep them from putting

their children in foster care.

Through its Safe Families Ministry,

volunteers help vulnerable families

by temporarily taking in their children,

while the parents regain stability.

- Those families really step in the gap

when you have families in crisis.

So our goal as an organization

is to really keep families intact.

- [Charlene] Bethany has also gone virtual

to offer information, training

and licensing for thoseinterested in foster care

and adoption.

- We've seen that a 55% increase

and interest in foster care parenting

during the pandemic,

and that's encouraging

because you see communities are responding

to the needs of their neighbors.

Families who found themselveswith more free time,

they were able to learnmore about foster care,

the licensing process,

and to be able to do that

from the comfort of their home.

- [Charlene] Another emerging trend,

more single parents getting involved.

- A lot of families think

well if I'm not married Ican't be a foster parent,

or I can't adopt.

And that's not true.

We have family, teenagerswho may have experienced

some really bad trauma.

They may not be comfortablein a two-parent home.

So there's a need for single parents

to serve our kids as well.

- [Charlene] Meanwhile, to raise awareness

for foster care andadoption amid the pandemic,

Bethany will host a virtual event

called Family Changes Everything,

featuring Francis Chan,

Christian rap artist Lecrae,

and others.

- Hear the message andprayerfully be compelled

to move forward and be a foster family,

adopt or support us in our efforts.

- [Charlene] Charlene Aaron, CBN News.