CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA
CELEBRATES NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH

Each night, hundreds of children across the Treasure Coast fall asleep without a family. From newborns to teens, these youngsters share the same dream: to be adopted into a loving forever family. As they wait in foster care, they lack the security of a permanent home and the stability of permanent, nurturing parents. Children's Home Society of Florida has been making dreams come true for foster children by creating families through adoption for 107 years. Today, CHS of the Treasure Coast is the entry point for all adoptive foster children in the area, including private and international adoptions.

To celebrate the many forever families brought together through adoption, and to raise awareness for the thousands of children still waiting, November is recognized as National Adoption Month.

Locally, the CHS Treasure Coast Division is hosting a National Adoption Month celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Langford Park, located at 2325 NE Dixie Highway in Jensen Beach. In addition to raising awareness about adoption, the event, which is free and open to the public, will highlight the need for permanent, loving homes for local children in foster care.

Additionally, CHS will recognize and celebrate families that have previously adopted children. Some of the activities that will be part of the event include games and prizes, arts and crafts, local social service agency information booths, live entertainment and guest speakers. Food and drinks will also be served.

Since National Adoption Awareness Month was declared 19 years ago, the number of children waiting to be adopted has received more attention; many of these children have special emotional and physical needs. CHS is committed to helping each child find a permanent and loving family.

"Bringing families together through adoption is an incredible opportunity," says David Bundy, CEO, CHS of Florida. "Adoption is a very rewarding experience, and it's a tremendous blessing for the entire family."

Bundy knows this firsthand; he's an adoptive father, too.

The adoption staff of the Treasure Coast Division of Children's Home Society of Florida will work to finalize the adoptions of more than 25 children in foster care in St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties during the month of November. Last fiscal year, the agency completed 93 foster care adoptions and expects to complete approximately the same number this year. Adoption services range from infants to foster care.

For more information, call Children's Home Society of Florida at 772-489-5601, ext. 250 or email frank.avilla@chsfl.org.

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