Dozens of families will gather in courtrooms in the eastern half of Kansas on or near November 21 to finalize adoptions and celebrate National Adoption Day. Judges and nonprofit organization KVC Kansas are facilitating the adoption finalizations of more than 60 Kansas children throughout the month of November.

National Adoption Day aims to raise awareness of the more than 100,000 U.S. children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. In Kansas, there are 350 children who need an adoptive family. Families considering adoption can learn more about the individual children at www.adoptkskids.org and http://adoption.kvc.org. The children’s online profiles include photos, bios and, in some cases, videos.

KVC Kansas is a private, nonprofit organization that provides services on behalf of the Kansas Department for Children and Families’ (DCF) two Eastern regions, including case management, family preservation, foster care, adoption, and aftercare services to more than 50% of all children and families in the Kansas child welfare system. KVC Health Systems, a nonprofit child welfare and behavioral healthcare organization headquartered in Olathe, is the parent organization to KVC Kansas. Since 2005, the organization has matched more than 3,129 children nationwide with adoptive families. The agency has also completed construction of the new KVC Institute for Health Systems Innovation in Olathe, Kan. which includes a high-tech Interactive Family and Adoption Center. To KVC’s knowledge, this is the first and only center of its kind devoted to matching thousands more children in foster care with adoptive families using video recording equipment, teleconferencing and social media. Learn more at www.kvc.org/institute.

Media representatives are invited to observe adoption finalizations and potentially interview adoptive families in the following cities (view this custom Google Map of the KVC adoption events):

These two events will include a press conference for media and a balloon release for families.

KANSAS CITY – 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20
Wyandotte County Courthouse (710 N. 7th St. Trfy)
This event will include a press conference for media and balloon release for families.
Approximately 10-15 children’s adoptions will be finalized.

TOPEKA – 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21
Shawnee County Courthouse (200 SE 7th St.)
This event will include a press conference for media and balloon release for families.
Approximately 15-20 children’s adoptions will be finalized.

These events will allow for media coverage:

OLATHE – 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21
Johnson County Courthouse (100 N. Kansas Ave.)
Approximately 10-15 children’s adoptions will be finalized.

KANSAS CITY METRO – 8:15 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 16
Leavenworth County Courthouse (601 S. 3rd Street)
Approximately 1 child’s adoption will be finalized.

LAWRENCE – 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20
Douglas County Courthouse (111 E. 11th St.)
Approximately 2 children’s adoptions will be finalized.

COFFEYVILLE – 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 20
Montgomery County Judicial Center (102 W. 7th, Suite A, Coffeyville, KS)
Approximately 1 child’s adoption will be finalized.

In Kansas last year, there were 65,631 reports of child abuse and neglect. Currently there are:
• 6,464 children in foster care
• 350 children waiting to be adopted. The greatest number of children in need of adoption are children eight years and older, members of a sibling group, and children with significant physical, medical or emotional needs.

“National Adoption Day is one of the most joyful days of the year,” said Chad E. Anderson, President of KVC Kansas. “For the adoptive parents, for KVC staff, and especially for the children, it is the culmination of a lot of hoping, waiting and hard work. We are thankful for the families that step up to the plate to become a permanent, loving family for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. We’re also thankful to the judges throughout Kansas who bring attention to the need for more adoptive families.”

To learn more, visit www.kvckansas.org or contact Jenny Kutz at (913) 322-4994. You can also view a Google Map showing each of the adoption finalization dates and locations.

About KVC Kansas
KVC Kansas is a private, nonprofit child welfare and behavioral healthcare organization. As the contractor for the Kansas Department for Children and Families’ (DCF) Eastern regions, KVC is responsible for 50% of all children and families in the Kansas child welfare system. Services include case management, foster care, adoption, family preservation and aftercare. KVC has the nation’s longest track record of providing foster care case management, among all private organizations. In its 45 year history, KVC has grown from a single home for boys in Kansas City, Kan. to a national organization touching the lives of more than 50,000 people each year. Learn more at www.kvckansas.org.