Putnam DCS, Children's Bureau mark Adoption Month Nov. 26

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the adoption of children and youth from foster care.

The Putnam County office of the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), along with the Children's Bureau, work together to recruit families interested in adopting children from Indiana's foster care system.

To celebrate local adoptive families and to provide information to prospective adoptive parents, the two agencies are collaborating on a special event at the Putnam County Courthouse on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

"It's no coincidence that National Adoption Awareness Month is positioned in the month of November when Americans celebrate a time of thanksgiving," said Michelle Chadd, director of the Putnam County DCS office. "It gives us policymakers, practitioners and advocates a chance to say 'thanks' to the many adoptive mothers and fathers that help their children thrive by encouraging them to aim high, work hard and make good choices that will lead to healthy and satisfying lives."

A free special reception Tuesday from 3-5 p.m. will include refreshments, special gifts for adoptive families as well as art activities for kids. It is open to the public.

A Children's Bureau adoption champion will also be there to provide adoption materials and be available to answer adoption questions.

While special attention is given to adoptions each year during November, DCS and its partners work year-round to find permanent homes for kids.

To help build awareness about adoptable foster children continuously throughout the year, DCS developed a compelling portraits display of children in need of adoptive families. The exhibit, called the Indiana Heart Gallery, travels to more than 50 venues around the state each year.

In addition, an online picture book with photos and short bios of adoptable kids is available (seehttp://www.in.gov/dcs/2737.htm). To provide support for parents that adopt a foster child, DCS and its partners offer post-adoptive services including referrals, therapy, crisis intervention, support groups and mentoring.

To be eligible to adopt a child from the foster care system, you do not have to be rich, own your own house or even be married. You only need space in your heart to provide love for a child. Though waiting kids come from a variety of backgrounds-- some are part of a sibling group, many are older children or adolescents and some have physical or mental disabilities -- DCS and its partners are committed to proving there is no such thing as an un-adoptable child.