News Archive

Stark County Ohio, Press Release, Tuesday, January 10, 2023 6pm

Stark County Job and Family Services Division of Children Services continues to hold foster and adoption information meetings each month. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the Division of Children Services, 402 2nd St. SE, Canton, OH 44702. Meetings are free and open to the public, registration is required. To register, please call 330-451-8789 or email Jennifer.Loomis@jfs.ohio.gov. Residents who are interested in learning more about becoming a foster and adoptive parent are encouraged to attend. During the meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to talk with a family resource worker and ask questions about the foster care and adoption process. The Division of Children Services currently has a great need for foster care families. Stark County has nearly 400 children living in the foster care system. The average age of a child in foster care is 8 years old.

Chatauqua County, Open House, Thursday, January 12, 2023 5pm to 8pm

The Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services’ Home Finding Team will host a Foster Parent Open House on Thursday, January 12, 2023. For convenience, the Department will offer an in-person session and a virtual session. The in-person session will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Cassadaga campus of Park United Methodist Church located at 25 Maple Ave. in Cassadaga, N.Y. Attendees should enter through the side door. The virtual session will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. If you enjoy working with children and want to help families in our community, consider attending one of these events. Attendees will learn about various foster care and adoption programs and meet our Home Finding Team. Events are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required.

Boston Herald, Today’s Child, Monday, January 9, 2023

Berniece is a kind, well-spoken young lady of African American descent. Those who know her best describe Berniece as a caring and pleasant teen that always has a large smile on her face. She enjoys camping, spending time outdoors, and having a good time with animals. Berniece also likes to draw and read journals. Berniece is currently in the 11th grade. Berniece enjoys school and has joined the Anime club and the Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) club in school. Berniece is able to build and maintain close relationships with her peers and siblings. Berniece shares a good relationship with her birth father.

New England Public Media, Bright Spot, Monday, January 9, 2023

Some Massachusetts child advocates believe the state’s newly signed Foster Parent Bill of Rights could improve foster care and help recruit new families into an over-stretched system. The bill of rights, signed by former Gov. Charlie Baker before he left office in January, promises foster parents will be given background information on the children in their home. “So that foster children can go to birthday parties without having background checks,” said Missy Tarjick with the Massachusetts Alliance for Foster Families. “If things are going well and foster parents are saying things are going well, it really impacts and makes people step up and decide to foster,” Tarjick said. “We need more foster parents because obviously the larger the pool, the better it is for kids to be matched to the best homes for them.” Tarjick has previously advocated for the state to do more to keep siblings together after they are removed from their biological parents.

Boston Globe, Sunday’s Child, Sunday, January 8, 2023

Kealan is a sweet, happy 9 year old. Kealan loves to sing and listen to music. Kealan beams when he hears his favorite songs! He also enjoys having books read to him and spending time with his friends. Kealan is on the autism spectrum. He uses vocalizations, gestures, images, symbols, and screen readers to communicate throughout the day. He is an active participant during his school days and at home. Kealan has a G-tube for feeding and has made tremendous strides in weight gain. Due to decreased eyesight, Kealan can only see about 3-4 feet away without his glasses. He’s a darling! Kealan’s, who has been legally put up for adoption, is trying to place him with a family able to meet his needs and help him thrive. A family would need to be able to keep up with Kealan’s many medical and developmental appointments, and to advocate for him at school.

Miami Heart Gallery, Relaunch, Saturday, January 7, 2023

Welcome to the Miami Heart Gallery The Children’s Trust Miami Heart Gallery is an online multimedia exhibit featuring children in Miami-Dade County’s foster care system who are eligible for adoption. This initiative is a collaboration between The Children’s Trust and Citrus Family Care Network.

Washington Examiner, Editorial, Saturday, January 7, 2023

[Editors Note: We can’t have an opinion, and have none. This article is worthwhile for the news content alone]. One of the most compelling findings from this research was the extent to which adoptees need therapeutic services, including mental health services, after their placement. For example, over 27% of parents who adopted from foster care reported their child had a diagnosed attachment disorder. We also documented a huge increase in medical special needs in private adoptions. Given the frequency with which therapeutic services are needed, it is critical that we ensure support is available for families after adoptive placement. In recent years, HHS has taken steps to help meet these needs. Just this year, a new, free training curriculum was released to help prepare and develop foster and adoptive parents for their roles.

Wyoming Tribune Eagle, A Child Waits, Friday, January 6, 2023

Get to know the helpful, polite, cooperative, motivated, and talkative, Autum! A known animal lover, Autum wants to be around animals whenever possible. Dogs, cats, bunnies, and horses are her favorite. You may find her singing a tune or spending her time outdoors. Belle from Beauty and the Beast is her favorite character. Autum likes to show her creative side through crafting. An ideal meal for her would include Mcdonald’s, chicken, spicy food, or Mexican cuisine. Purple, blue, and pink are her most liked colors. If Autum could choose any superpower, invisibility, speed, and the ability to talk to animals would be at the top of her list. For her future, she dreams of having a job, a husband, and kids. This seventh grader likes English and art the most.

WSVN Miami, Making a Difference, Friday, January 6, 2023

May Molina’s labor of love is helping children, and she has been doing it since she was a child. May Molina, Children’s Home Society of Florida volunteer: “If I must say, I’m currently 40, so I started at the age of seven. You guys could do the math. I would just go with my sister, who would volunteer.” May says her sons, now 15 and 20, share her passion of serving those who are less fortunate. Sharing a love for giving back with a new generation, Children’s Home Society of Florida, which started back in 1902, helps more than 60,000 children and family members each year. For 33 years, May has volunteered with Children’s Home Society of Florida.