National Center for Adoption Law & Policy to Host Family-Friendly Event at COSI May 17
May 15, 2008
 The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy at Capital University Law School (NCALP) hosted its Forever Home Adoption Celebration, at COSI Columbus on Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. Kids of all ages enjoyed this fun, family-friendly event.
As the only event of its kind in Central Ohio, Forever Home Adoption Celebration was aimed at increasing public awareness of adoption as a family-building option.
This year, Forever Home was packed with fun activities to fill an entire afternoon. Guests enjoyed all-day admission to COSI, afternoon snacks and refreshments, live entertainment including a magician, interactive music, cool science experiments, raffle prizes, and information booths on adoption and adoption-related support services. Over 250 people attended.
“Forever Home is such a great event for families,” said Becky Hetteberg, adoptive mother of two children from South Korea and previous Forever Home participant. “The kids really enjoy the abundance of activities, and prospective adoptive parents have a chance to speak to adoption-foster care agencies in a casual atmosphere.”
Thank you to the following agencies and organizations who exhibited at the event:
Adoption Circle
Adopt America Network
ADAMH Board of Franklin County
All God’s Children
Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence
Creative Memories
GalaxSea Cruises & Tours
Interracial Families in Friendship
Hannah Neil Center for Children-Starr Commonwealth
Families for Russian & Ukrainian Adoption
Families Through International Adoption
Franklin County Children’s Services
Northeast Ohio Adoption Services
Family Adoption Consultants
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Usborne Books
United Methodist Children’s Home
Right now, over 3,000 Ohio children – more than 200 children in Franklin County – wait for families to adopt them. In total, more than 100,000 children across the country are available for adoption, as well as thousands more children internationally. Held annually, this event is an ideal opportunity to support, learn, and inform about adoption.
Forever Home seeks to achieve five main objectives:
- To give all kids, parents, and families of every kind a fun and informative outing;
- To raise awareness about the need to find permanent families for all children, especially children waiting in foster care;
- To provide prospective adoptive parents with education and information resources on the adoption process;
- To provide adoptive families with post-adoption support resources and celebrate their adoption success; and
- To provide information about and support for the work of the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy at Capital University Law School.
Proceeds raised from the event are used to support programs of the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy in education, research, and advocacy that benefit Ohio families, as well as families across the nation. The Center is dedicated to improving the laws, policies, and practices associated with adoption and child protection both locally and nationally so that every child has the best chance possible for a healthy, safe, and permanent home.
For more information about the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy at Capital University Law School, including its mission and current projects, visit www.ncalp.org, or call Denise St. Clair at (614) 236-6730.
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