TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the presentation about Share Your Heart...Share Your Home to raise awareness about the need for foster and adoptive parents and weekend hosts, and recognize local foster parents who are providing stable homes to children in Long Beach.
DISCUSSION
More than 8,000 children in Los Angeles County, including 600 children from the greater Long Beach area, are in need of a temporary safe, stable and loving foster home. In the county, nearly 500 children of all ages and ethnicities are waiting for a permanent, loving adoptive family of their own.
In partnership with Supervisor Don Knabe and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, we are working to raise awareness for this tremendous need, and to provide information to adults who might be interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents.
Foster and adoptive parents can be single, married, divorced or living with a partner. They can live in an apartment or house, and either rent or own. There is no minimum income requirement, other than supporting oneself and providing a safe and stable home. Financial assistance, medical coverage and supportive services are available.
The 3rd Annual Foster Care and Adoption Expo in Long Beach is taking place on Saturday, June 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Long Beach City College in the Nordic Lounge, located at 4901 East Carson Street.
A panel of foster and adoptive parents, as well as resource providers, will share their experiences and answer questions about what is involved in providing a stable foster or adoptive home.
To help raise awareness, the Heart Gallery will be on display in the City Hall lobby from June 3 to June 10, presenting some of the children in need of permanent homes.
To learn more about adopting or fostering, people can call (888) 811-1121 or visit the website www.ShareYourHeartLA.org.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Re...
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