Tuesday, November 28, 2017 – The Lee County Department of
Social Services (LCDSS) reports that 24 agency adoptions were completed in
FY2017, which represents the time period of July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. LCDSS released the information in recognition
of National Adoption Month.
Since 1995, November has been recognized as National Adoption
Month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This initiative, currently run by the U.S. DHHS
Children’s Bureau, focuses on increasing national awareness of the need for
permanent families for children in the U.S. foster care system. National Adoption Month provides advocacy
groups and local, state, and federal agencies a shared platform to bring
attention to various adoption related issues facing our communities.
“Often times, the foster care system only receives public
notice when something has gone wrong,” says Angelina Noel, Director of LCDSS,
“but the reality is there are more times when the system works successfully to
provide resources and support to help reunite families that find themselves in
the system. LCDSS staff always works
towards a goal of family reunification; unfortunately, circumstances sometimes
arise that make reunification impossible and with the best interest, safety and
well-being of the child or children in mind, we work towards finding permanent
homes through agency adoptions to provide a safe and supportive family environment
that every child deserves.”
LCDSS has a strong history of finding permanency for
children in foster care in need of a lasting stable family environment. In the current year (FY2018), LCDSS reports
five adoptions in progress where families are waiting for finalization of the
legal paperwork; four pre-adoptive placements where services are being received
with the hope the end result is adoption; and two children in need of
pre-adoptive placements.
LCDSS staff works throughout the year to find temporary and
permanent family placements for Lee County children in the foster care system. If you are interested in learning more about
opportunities available to support foster children and families or to become a
foster parent or adoptive family, please contact the Lee County Department of
Social Services at 919-718-4690.
For additional information contact:
