Lucas Co. Children Services Celebrates National Adoption Month
(TOLEDO – October 18, 2011) – Eight children will get “forever families,” and dozens of others will commemorate their recent adoptions as Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) holds an “Adoption Celebration” on November 5, 2011. The event takes place at 11 a.m. at Imagination Station in downtown Toledo.
There will be a brief ceremony at 11 a.m., led by LCCS Executive Director Dean Sparks. When the ceremony concludes, the families who have already completed their adoptions will be free to enjoy the fun and learning at Imagination Station, while the families finalizing their adoptions that day will take their turns sitting with Judge Jack Puffenberger of the Lucas County Probate Court to make their commitments permanent. The groups will gather again around 2 p.m. to enjoy refreshments together.
Over the past five years, LCCS has found adoptive homes for more than 630 children from foster care. They are the lucky ones; nationwide, more than 107,000 children and youth in foster care are awaiting adoptive families. Right now, LCCS is seeking adoptive homes for approximately 30 children, most of whom are pre-teens, teens, or part of groups of brothers and sisters.
The first major effort to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in foster care occurred in Massachusetts in 1976, when Governor Michael Dukakis announced an Adoption Week. The idea grew in popularity and spread nationwide. In 1984, President Reagan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week, and in 1995, under President Clinton, the week was expanded to the entire month of November.
Every November, a Presidential Proclamation launches activities and celebrations to help build awareness of adoption throughout the nation. Thousands of community organizations and public child welfare agencies like LCCS celebrate foster care adoption, challenge the myths, and draw attention to the thousands of children in foster care who are waiting for permanent families.
About Lucas County Children Services
The mission of Lucas County Children Services is to lead the community in the protection of children at risk of abuse and neglect. This is accomplished by working with families, service providers and community members to assess risk and coordinate community-based services resulting in safe, stable and permanent families for children.
Press Release Contact Name: Julie Malkin
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419-213-3254
Organization Name: Lucas County Children Services
Website or Link: www.lucaskids.net
Organization Address: 705 Adams St., Toledo, OH, 43604