Broome County Department Of Social Services Joins National Adoption Month 2003 Campaign

BINGHAMTON, NY - This November the Broome County Department of Social Services will join thousands of individuals, government agencies and child advocacy organizations across the nation in promoting the National Adoption Month 2003 Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to spread awareness and to recruit and retain foster and adoptive parents for our nation's waiting children.

Since 1990 the nation has officially recognized November as National Adoption Month to focus attention on the increasing number of children in the child welfare system waiting for placement with families. According to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), there are approximately 542,000 children currently in foster care, 126,000 of who are waiting for permanent families. Of the children in need of adoption, 66 percent are children of color and 64 percent are over the age of 5.

This year's campaign aims to decrease these numbers by increasing the number of families willing to foster and/or adopt a child or teen. The theme of this year's campaign "There's No Place Like Your Home" encourages families across the nation to open their hearts and homes to a child in need.

"The number of children in Broome County and across the nation waiting for permanent family placement is increasing at an alarming rate," said Broome County Executive Jeff Kraham. "The National Adoption Month 2003 Campaign enhances Broome County's efforts to place its foster children in safe homes with adults who can offer hope to our children," said Kraham. Don Bowersox, Supervisor of the Adoption and Home Finding Unit at the Broome County Department of Social Services commented, "we have 45 children in need of adoption in Broome County who want a place to call home and a loving family to call their own."

Throughout the month of November the Broome County Department of Social Services is encouraging families to consider becoming foster or adoptive parents. Individuals or families who would like more information should call the Broome County Department of Social Services at 607.778.2533.

CONTACT:
Don Bowersox
office: 607.778.2533

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