Award winning families celebrated in Albany

October 31, 2007

ATLANTA (GA) – Families and individuals interested in learning about adoption are invited to attend the "Award Winning Families Celebration" on Friday, November 2. The event, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services’ Adoption Unit, will take place from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Albany’s Merry Acres, located at 1500 Dawson Road. "Adoptive Families of the Year" in the Albany area and throughout Georgia’s Southwest region, will be recognized for making a difference in the lives of children. County DFCS and private adoption agencies from around the state will also be on hand to provide information about the adoption process and specific children who need adopting.

State adoption officials say the event, which is one of several statewide events that commemorates National Adoption Month in Georgia, will focus specifically on older children who typically wait longer for foster and/or adoptive parents. State officials will honor adoptive families from counties throughout the region who have shown extraordinary commitment by adopting or fostering children with special needs. Families will be honored from Dougherty, Colquitt, Lee, Calhoun, Miller, Early, Seminole, Grady, Decatur, Worth, Terrell, Mitchell and Baker counties.

"At this event we are bringing families from opposite ends of the spectrum together with the hope that the prospective adoptive families who are just thinking about getting started will take advantage of the opportunity to learn from families who have already adopted successfully," said Barbara McDuffie-Taylor, Regional Adoption Manager which includes the Albany area. " While plenty of DFCS and private adoption agency staff will be available to assist families with any questions they may have, we know that hearing it from someone who has adopted an older child or sibling group and learning about their experience first-hand may be far more valuable to a family that has many questions about the process" she said.

There are approximately 2,200 children in Georgia who are in need of adoptive families. They are typically 8 and older, African American, and/or a member of a sibling group. For more information about adoption please call 1-877- 210-KIDS, or visit the Department of Human Resources website at www.dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/adoptions. For more information on the Award Winning Families Celebration call 877-242-5774.

For information contact:
Beverly Jones, 404-657-1387
[email protected]