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Highlands Today

Seminar To Cover Adoption Options

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: May 3, 2008

SEBRING — About 400 children in Highlands County receive protective services from the state or are placed in foster care homes, and more options are needed for placement.

A reception Tuesday, May 6 will help community members learn about ways they can help, including adopting a child, opening their home to foster children or being a mentor for a child receiving protective services.

"Our hope is to provide a wide range of levels of service so that anyone interested in becoming involved can," said Jeff Roth, director of the Children's Advocacy Center.

The reception will start at 6 p.m. at Union Congregational Church, at 106 N. Butler Ave. in Avon Park, and will include an information session about volunteer options available. The event is hosted by Union Congregational Church of Avon Park, the Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands County and Heartland For Children.

"You don't have to come with a commitment in mind," Roth said. "This is just an opportunity to receive information, maybe you know someone else you can pass the information along to or maybe you will become involved yourself."

Roth said photos of the children in Highlands County who are eligible for adoption from the state will be displayed at the reception and case workers will be available to answer questions about the children.

"We have a lot of older children especially who feel like no one wants them or that they are not important," Roth said.

Foster homes are needed for short-term stays for children who need protective services.

"Many children have to be shipped off to other counties because we don't have enough beds here," Roth said. "We also need more houses so that we can keep siblings together."

Mentoring opportunities are also available for people who have time to give but cannot commit to having someone live with them.

"We have a lot of senior citizens who can't commit to providing full-time care, but may be willing to help out a few hours every now and then," Roth said. Opportunities to volunteer include transporting foster children to extracurricular events or providing respite care for an afternoon or weekend.

Questions about Tuesday's event can be directed to the Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands County at 402-6845.

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