Friday event: 130 foster children to be adopted -- National Adoption Day

 

		County of Los Angeles DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES                     425 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, California  90020           (213) 351-5886
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 17, 2010   Contact:    Neil Zanville                    DCFS Office of Public Affairs                    (213) 351-5886                     (213) 471-6302 -cell			Board of Supervisors GLORIA MOLINA First District   MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS Second District   ZEV YAROSLAVSKY Third District   DON KNABE Fourth District   MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH Fifth District
MEDIA ADVISORY-November 19th   130 Foster Children's Adoptions Finalized as Los Angeles Celebrates National Adoption Day All 50 states join the celebration with 4,500 foster children adopted nationwide
What:	On Friday, November 19th, 130 foster children's adoptions will be finalized at the Edmund D. Edleman Children Court in Monterey Park. For the fourth year in a row, courts in all 50 states will open their doors to finalize more than 4,500 adoptions of children in foster care.  National Adoption Day was first celebrated in Los Angeles following the success of its "Adoption Saturday" program that has facilitated the adoptions of more than 16,000 Los Angeles County foster youth since 1998.  National Adoption Day is an important opportunity for local courts, child welfare agencies and communities to raise public awareness of these waiting children and the need to find adoptive families for them, as well as to celebrate all families that adopt nationwide. Actress, writer Nia Vardalos, the 2010 National Adoption Day spokesperson and TV actor Willie Garson will share their personal stories of foster care adoption The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) encompasses the largest public adoption agency in the country. In 2009, 2,313 children exited foster care in Los Angeles County when their adoptions by loving permanent families were finalized. Reflective of the Department's strong commitment to kinship care, 60% of DCFS' finalized adoptions are relative adoptions.  There are nearly 500 children still waiting for an adoptive family. DCFS has Post Adoption Services social workers to assist families with adoption-related needs that may arise after the adoption finalizes.  To become a foster or adoptive parent, please call 1- 888- 811-1121.  Cameras and media will be allowed in the courtroom to witness and film adoptions.
Who:	Honorable Michael Nash, Presiding Judge, Los Angeles Juvenile Court Nia Vardalos, writer, actress ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") and adoption advocate Willie Garson, TV star of "White Collar" and "Sex in the City," adoptive parent Patricia S. Ploehn, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services Janis Spire, Chief Executive Officer, The Alliance for Children's Rights Karen Ullman, Supervising Staff Attorney, Public Counsel Law Center Rythmatist, acclaimed hip-hop artist performing educational songs for kids
When:	Friday, November 19, 2010 1 p.m. -          Press Conference, 5th floor of courthouse 1:30 - 2 p.m.  Witness adoption proceedings with Judge Nash & Nia Vardalos in Dept. 419 1:30 - 4 p.m.  One-on-one interviews with National Day spokesmen and adoptive families
Where:	Edmund D. Edleman Children's Court, 201 Centre Plaza Dr., Monterey Park   91754
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