chicago (WLS) — As of April 30, more than 7,200 children were in foster care across the state, according to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

What’s next for them?

Dr. Susan McConnell founded Let It Be Us to be the bridge between families who want to adopt and children waiting for adoption through foster care.

She and her husband have three adopted children.

“We’re in our eleventh year of work. We were founded to provide solutions for foster care and adoption. We now work directly with DCFS, under a contract statewide to provide adoptive resources for children who are waiting,” said McConnell.

Patrick Macellaio is a Let it Be Us board member. He was adopted at birth.

“I was raised always knowing I was adopted. My brother and I are sixteen days apart. We were adopted from different families,” Macellaio said.

He explained that he had a great experience and was “afforded a beautiful life; a wonderful education.”

McConnell said it’s “extremely rewarding” to be a foster or adoptive parent.

“Placement is very important. So rather than putting a child in the next home, we place a child in the best home. We work with caseworkers throughout the state, whether they work with a private agency or with DCFS. We allow them access to our technology through our customer service. And so every child is given access to all of the families who are waiting so they are placed in the best home,” he said.

For more information:

Let It Be Us Home Page