Community Events

DFCS Raises Community Awareness during State of the Children Breakfast

The Division of Family and Children Services recently hosted a State of the Children Breakfast to spread the word about the urgent need for foster and adoptive parents. The presentation opened with "The Eleventh Commandment," a music video by country music star and Childhelp USA® Celebrity Ambassador Collin Raye.

The video portrays the realities of abused children and concludes with the Childhelp USA® National Child Abuse Hotline number (800) 4-A-CHILD®. To order a video, visit http://www.childhelpusa.org/abuseinfo_videos.htm. To listen to the music, visit http://www.angelfire.com/mi2/chinook/.

Jessie Swan, Regional Adoption Coordinator of the Office of Adoptions, discussed ways that citizens can help. The three biggest needs are for foster homes, adoptive parents, and donated supplies, including duffle bags and clothing for children entering into care.

Swan said that Clayton, Fayette, Fulton and Henry County DFCS agencies teamed together to plan a recent Foster Care and Adoption Fair in McDonough. Staff from each office delivered county updates, sharing alarming statistics comparing the number of children in foster care with the limited number of foster and adoptive homes. After the breakfast, attendees browsed through the DFCS displays and exhibit booths.