Norfolk will celebrate National Adoption Day on Saturday, November, at the Norfolk YMCA, 301 W. Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk, Nebraska, 68701, by invitation only. The event is hosted by Judge Ross Stoffer and will include entertainment and activities (jump house, swimming, laser tag, balloon animals, crafts, meal and short program) for children that have been adopted in Madison, Pierce, Antelope, Cedar, Wayne, Cuming, Stanton and Knox counties over the past year and their forever families. This annual one-day event has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to finalize adoptions, and create and celebrate adoptive families.

This and every November is National Adoption Awareness Month all across the United States. While the main point of National Adoption Day is to finalize adoptions, it's also a day of celebration. It's a celebration for those children who have found their forever families and for the parents who have made it through the long adoption process and have finally made it to finalization. It's also a celebration of life, love, and family. As such, National Adoption Day is the epitome of this month's focus--connecting waiting children and families, helping them reach adoption finalization, and providing post- adoption support.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are over 400,000 children in foster care, with 114,000 of those children waiting to be adopted into a permanent, loving, stable home. According to Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, as of October 29, 2019, there are 204 wards of the state of Nebraska available for adoption.

During the month of November, our nation celebrates National Adoption Month, and recognizes the families that have opened their hearts and homes to children in need of a family and the joy that adoption brings.

It is also important to recognize the efforts of the volunteers and mentors who provide a positive, stable relationship for a child whose entire world is changing.  In addition, programs that provide comprehensive resources—from mental health services to tutoring—help foster kids succeed.

To learn more about adopting a child, go to www.nebraskaheartgallery.org, www.nfapa.org, http://nebraskaheartgallery.org/ or call 1-800-7PARENT (1-800-772-7368) or your local DHHS office.

For more information, contact Kari Kraenow, kari.kraenow@nebraska.gov.

For background information, see Nebraska’s National Adoption Day Page.