Who:

St. Louis City Family Court – Juvenile Division, in partnership with

·     St. LouisCity Children’s
Division

·     Children’s Permanency Partnership

·     Saint Louis Partners

·     Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition

·     Adoption Exchange

·     MissouriAlliance for Children
and Families

·     Great Circle

What:

The National Adoption Awareness Month Kickoff Event will feature adoptive parents and older youth speaking about their experiences with the foster care system and adoption.

KMOX radio host Debbie Monterrey, an adoptive parent, will be featured speaker.

Agencies will be on hand to provide information about fostering
and adopting, as well as answer any questions. The event will include food and beverages as well as music by a student band.

When:

Friday, Nov. 7, 10-11:30 a.m.

Where:

Family Resource Center

3309 S. Kingshighway

St. Louis, MO, 63139

Why:

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. Every child is adoptable, and all children deserve the chance to grow up in a safe, loving, permanent home.

St. Louis City Family Court – Juvenile Division is hosting a kickoff event to raise awareness about the need for adoptive families and encourage the adoption of children in foster care waiting for a family.

More than 100,000 American children in foster care are waiting for adoption, including more than 2,000 in Missouri and 60 in St. LouisCity. In addition, more than 23,000 kids exit the foster care system each year without a permanent family, 63 of those in St. Louis City last year.

Extra:

Beginning Nov. 3, Shanté M. Lampley, D.M., chief deputy juvenile officer, is available for interviews or as a member of a panel discussing adoption awareness.

Media contact:

Thom Gross

Public Information Officer, Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit of Missouri

Phone: (314) 622-5685 or (314) 540-7503

Thom.gross@courts.mo.gov

People with questions about becoming adoptive parents may call the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition at (800) FOSTER-3 or (314) 367-8373.