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Who? When? Why? Where?

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Who? When? Why? Where? Resource Websites: www.NationalAdoptionDay.Org www.ChildWelfare.gov/topics/adoption/nam/ Why?What do balloons, clowns and ice cream sandwiches have to do with being a judge? Plenty if you’re trying to draw media and public attention to the need for more adoptions of children from the foster care system. On National Adoption Day, kids who have been in the foster care system get their adoptions finalized. By finalizing them on a Saturday, with a celebratory atmosphere involving balloons, treats and a teddy bear for each child, much more atten- tion can be brought to the event. Regardless of whether the court has a significant number of adoptions, or if there are no adoptions to be finalized in November, the court has a party, inviting adoptive families from the previous year. It’s attention – from the public and media – that’s needed if more children are going to find permanent placement in new families. According to Nebraska’s Adoption Day founder, Judge Wadie Thomas of Omaha, “We need more families to step up and adopt kids. Adoption Day gets media attention for the issue.” When?The entire month of November is National Adoption Month. Saturday, November 17, 2018 is National Adoption Day, but if you can’t hold the event on a weekend, have it the week before in the afternoon and move the party off site. Host Judge DHHS staff or court staff Who?Juvenile Jurisdiction Judge to host the festivities. Duties: Perform (someone who knows families). adoptions on day (if included) Duties: Increase awareness of caseworkers to encourage participation Welcome to the party Serve as media contact before, during, and after party Thank volunteers, parents, and children Monitor media to ensure event coverage Orchestrate press conference (if included) Make sure photo waivers are signed and match media with Direct or assign event planning cooperating families Volunteer Coordinator Facilitate interviews with judge, attorneys, etc DHHS, CASA, Court staff, Foster Care Review. Photographer Duties: Coordinate party elements (see attached) Usually DHHS staff or volunteer. Direct fundraising and volunteer solicitation Duties: Set-up and take new ‘first family’ photo Media Contact Take dozen or so photos for Judicial Branch Web site, DHHS newsletters, lawyer’s magazine. Where?If you don’t have your party in the courthouse: thing to the kids for free all evening!) • Have a dinner program in a quiet building and hold the party at • Reserve an indoor hotel party area (get donations!) the local YMCA/YWCA (the Hastings staff there opened every- • Reserve a local museum or Children’s Museum Press Conference: • Play various CDs that the kids like What?• Host judge to welcome and thank volunteers • Be open to the idea that a parent/family may be a singer/singers (a • Keynote speakers have included: Chief Justice, Senator who was Hastings family created an adoption song that is sung every year) adopted or has adopted, adoption agency director, CPS workers, • A dance area youth who was adopted Food Adoptions: • See if local coffee shop will donate coffee (and help serve?) Stuffed Animal Adoptions • Buy cookies, donuts, drinks, fruit, and anything else you can think • Have each child choose a stuffed animal (bunny/bear) to ‘adopt’ of • Table with stuffed animals that the siblings of each child can select • Volunteers to bake/cook for the party and take home Activities Adoption Cards • Crayons and coloring sheets on each table • Give each child an adoption card (FREE from the court admin- • Cover each table with a HUGE sheet of paper that the kids can istrator’s office or create one of your own that repre-sents your draw on, doodle, write poems where they are sitting to eat, then town) cut out/tear off the artwork to be taken home and framed or done Photography right there with donated/bought frames (local paper may have • Ask the family if they want to take pictures after the adoption with end-rolls of newsprint sitting around) their judge – some families are too intimidated/ overwhelmed to • Flowers for the mothers ask • Photo ‘Garden” on the wall of the waiting room, with each child’s • Hire/recruit a local or professional photographer to create a New face on a flower. Children could “pick” their flowerafter their “First Family” photo and distribute on CD’s or framed prints via adoption and take it home DHHS. • Costume characters (Local Ren Faire groups, local school theatre, Gift Room school mascot, cheerleaders) • Give out backpacks, duffle bags, really neat homemade draw string • Costume characters – Runza Rex, Saltdogs Homer, Outback Ar- bags filled with donated goodies (personal grooming, toys, camer- madillo, Sparkle Fairies as, photo albums, use imagination!) • Balloon artists (anyone local who really likes to do balloon ani- Celebration: mals) • Wandering magician performing magic tricks • Recruit help from local high schools, fraternities/sororities, • Face painting table clubs… • Arts and crafts table where kids can design their new family tree • Balloons, decorations with art supplies • Fingerprint/ID kits – some police/sheriff/insurance companies have these kits to make ID cards for the kids National Web Site • Make printed programs with names and bios of each child being • Go to the national website at www.nationaladoptionday.org to adopted register your celebration party. • Video/slideshow, including each child, set to music, which is • You may get FREE STUFF played on a computer & projected on a TV screen in the waiting • Banners (vinyl and re-usable) area and gift area or wherever the families are located. Send copies • Bears (have to be ordered) of the DVD home with each family. • Templates for news releases, invitations, phone scripts, etc Party Music: • Check it out-- valuable information to guide celebration! • Ask a local band Financial Contributors • Hold fundraisers throughout the year: golf tournaments, car How?• Judges washes, fairs, bake sales, chili cook-offs, etc. (Get the local schools • Adoption partnerships/agencies involved; kids come up with really great ideas) • Local foundations and businesses • Have something printed up with the National Adoption Day logo Media Communication – T-shirts, hats, bags, picture frames, glasses/mugs, name some- • State Public Information officer to coordinate media press releases thing else. (Ask local printers for a donation/special deal) and notice with DHHS and local adoption day coordinator • Have something printed up with each of the kids’ names on it (T-shirts, hats, mugs, picture frames with their whole/new name Planning engraved) • PLAN EARLY – Spring is good; January is better • Check out what Right Turn can do in your town, www.righttur- • APPLY FOR GRANTS --Also DO THIS EARLY nne.org • Use the national web site: www.nationaladoptionday.org • Create a program with agenda and children being adopted • Have a committee with the court, fundraiser people, the staff of where the party will be held, and party planners.
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