The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) partners, representatives from the Indiana Adoption Program and the Indiana Heart Gallery, will be a part of the Adoption Journey Conference on February 27 in Auburn, Indiana. The goal of the conference is to be a resource event for the increasing number of families living in Northeast Indiana who are thinking about adoption, are in the adoption process, or have adopted. Registration is required.

“On average we are actively recruiting adoptive homes for 100 – 120 youth statewide,” said Sandra Caesar, DCS’ adoption program manager. “Every child needs a family they can call their own. We need families that are not only willing to love our children, but are also prepared to commit to them, claim them as their own and hang in there through their ups and downs.”

Representatives from the Indiana Adoption Program are called Adoption Champions and will be on-site to answer questions and provide information on Indiana’s adoption procedures.

The Heart Gallery’s remarkable professional portraits and stories about foster children in Indiana help to put a face on a sometimes invisible need and remind families that adoption can change lives. There is no charge to see the Gallery.

LOCATION:

County Line Church of God

http://countylinechurch.org/ajc

7716 N County Line Rd.

Auburn, IN 46706

Registration Required

WHEN:

February 27, 2016

9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Additional Adoption Links and Information

· For more information about the Indiana Heart Gallery, go to http://www.in.gov/dcs/3033.htm.

· To find out more about adopting an Indiana child and view Hoosier youth in need of an adoptive home, go to www.adoptachild.in.gov or call 888.25ADOPT

About Indiana Heart Gallery:

The Heart Gallery is a traveling photographic exhibit the Indiana Department of Child Services created in 2007 to help find forever families for children in foster care. Venues generally include hospitals, libraries, museums and churches. There are more than 120 Heart Galleries across the U.S. and the exhibits have resulted in more than 5,000 children around the country finding adoptive families. With help from the Heart Gallery, more than 1,000 Hoosier foster kids found forever homes in state fiscal year 2014.

About the Indiana Adoption Program

The Indiana Adoption Program is a statewide initiative to find adoptive homes for Indiana’s foster children. Local Adoption Champions (ACs) hold events throughout Indiana to help their community understand the adoption process, the need for adoptive homes, and the needs of children waiting to be adopted. ACs provide information, materials, and answers to your questions.

About Indiana Department of Child Services:

The Indiana Department of Child Services (www.in.gov/dcs) protects children from abuse and neglect and works to ensure the financial support of children. Indiana Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 800.800.5556. Child Support Customer Service Kidsline: 800.840.8757 or 317.233.5437.