There are Adoption Day Celebrations in communities throughout Nebraska:
Nov. 18: Grand Island
Nov. 19: Fremont/Dakota City; Hastings; Kearney; Lincoln; Norfolk; North Platte; Omaha
Dec. 3: Scottsbluff/Gering
Nebraska Adoption Statistics
- As of Sept. 30: 264 state wards were adopted in Nebraska (since Jan. 1)
- There are an additional 100 children to be adopted during Adoption Day celebrations: Lincoln – 59; Omaha – 32; Hastings – 3; Scottsbluff – 6 (SB/Gering adoption day is Dec. 3)
- As of today, there are 266 children who are free for adoption and needing adoptive homes (this does not include children already placed in adoptive homes)
Nebraska Adoption Resources
Toll-free phone number: 1-800-7PARENT (1-800-772-7368)
Adoption website: www.dhhs.ne.gov/adoption/index.htm
Adoption website for children currently free for adoption: www.dhhs.ne.gov/adoption/children.htm
State Contacts (local contacts and judges on individual press releases:
Dianna Seiffert, Public Information Officer Janet Bancroft, Public Information Officer NE Dept. of Health & Human Services Nebraska Supreme Court
(402) 471-1695 (402) 471-3205
Dianna.Seiffert@nebraska.gov Janet.Bancroft@nebraska.gov
History of Nebraska Adoption Day:
Courts became involved in Nebraska's National Adoption Day in order to raise awareness of the need for permanent families for foster-adopt children throughout the state.
- Judges take this opportunity to thank adoption specialists and caseworkers who have become a part of each Nebraska family who adopts a state ward.
- For courts, caseworkers, and the legal community, Adoption Day is a celebration of a child who has gained the permanency that every child deserves. It is the celebration of the creation of a new family and of all of those individuals within a community that work so hard every day to ensure that every child has a safe permanent home.
- It is a day where children celebrate what they already know they are in their heart – a family.
National Adoption Day
On National Adoption Day 2011 – an unprecedented number of courts and communities across the nation will come together to finalize thousands of adoptions of children from foster care and to celebrate all families who adopt. The day brings together hundreds of judges, attorneys, adoption agencies, adoption professionals and child advocates who are dedicated to creating forever families for waiting children.
Goals of National Adoption Day
- Finalize adoptions from foster care in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico
- Celebrate and honor all families who adopt
- Raise awareness about more than 107,000 children in foster care waiting for adoption
- Encourage others to adopt children from foster care
- Build collaboration among local adoption agencies, courts, and advocacy organizations
- Communicate availability and need for post-adoptive services
History of National Adoption Day
Since 2000, National Adoption Day has grown from nine events in its first year to more than 375 events in 2010 with 4,800 adoptions finalized in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.
National Adoption Day Partners
A coalition of national partners – The Alliance for Children's Rights, Children's Action Network, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and Freddie Mac Foundation – sponsor National Adoption Day to draw special attention to foster children waiting for permanent families and to celebrate all loving families that adopt.
For more information, visit www.supremecourt.ne.gov/administrative-offices/adoption-day/adoption-day.shtml.
