1. Kansas Communities Helping Find Forever Families A presentation to support adoption and foster care services of the Kansas Department for Children and Families Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

2. Child Welfare in America Each year, thousands of families are affected by child welfare issues. In fact, there were 397,122 children in foster care in the U.S. as of Sept. 30 2013 Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

3. What does the need look like in Kansas? There are 6,712 children in foster care in Kansas. (as of 1/31/14) They live in our neighborhoods, attend local schools and worship in our congregations. Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

4. Kansas’ Unsung Heroes Foster Parents Relative Caregivers Adoptive Parents Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

5. Providing Love, Support and Stability through Adoption Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas Family Story

6. Still, more families are needed! Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

7. …families that will provide a loving home Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

8. …families that will love hard-to-place children Such as older children and teens, sibling groups and youth with special needs. Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

9. …families that will provide a forever home There are 358 Kansas children who are available for adoption and need to be matched with a forever family. (as of 1/31/14) Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

10. Help a child know they are special Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

11. Next steps… If you are interested in adopting, please visit online: adoptkskids.org Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

12. For more information on foster families: st-francis.org in the West and Wichita Regions KVC.org in the East and Kansas City Regions

13. Change a Lifetime No matter how much time you have to give, you have the power to do something positive that will Change a Lifetime for a young person in foster care or by adopting a child into your family. Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas