Clark County’s Department of Family
Services, The Adoption Exchange and several local
agencies will hold the 10th annual Adoption Fair from
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3
at the Clark County Government Center.
“The adoption fair is an
opportunity for families to learn more about adoption
and ask questions about the process,” said Thomas
Morton, director of Family Services. “Many children in
our local child welfare system are available for
adoption. An important goal of the Department of Family
Services is to help these children find loving,
permanent homes, and we need the community’s help to do
that.”
The event is free and open to the
public and features a family-friendly atmosphere with
food, drinks and carnival games for kids. Attendees
include prospective parents, children hoping to be
adopted and professionals interested in finding
permanent homes for local children. Exhibits and
informational tables will be set up in the
cafeteria/Pyramid Room on the first floor of the
Government Center. Represented organizations include
Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Olive Crest,
Jewish Family Services and other private and public
adoption agencies. Officials from CASA, or
Court-Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster
care, will be present at the event in addition to other
agencies that help abused and neglected children. Every
30 minutes – starting at 11:30 and continuing until 1:30
– presentations offering general information about
adoption also will be held in the Government Center’s
Pueblo Room.
Locally, more than 2,200 children
are in foster care and the number of children needing
shelter is increasing by nearly 30 percent per year.
More information about the Adoption Fair is available by
contacting The Adoption Exchange at 436-6335 or the
Department of Family Services at 455-0181 or by e-mail
at
fosterclarkcounty@co.clark.nv.us.
