Virtual event highlights need for adoptive parents

More than 600 Minnesota foster children who cannot be reunified with their families are waiting to go home to another permanent family. Most needed are families for adolescents and sibling groups.

A week of virtual events starting Monday, Nov. 1, will focus on the children who need permanent families, as well as the 965 children adopted from state guardianship last year. Minnesota’s 24th annual “Celebrate Adoption: Circus of the Heart” event honors families who adopted foster children in the past year and provides information about adoption. Anyone thinking about adoption is encouraged to participate and learn more about adopting children from the foster care system.

“Every child needs a safe, nurturing, permanent family,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “Last year’s virtual Circus of the Heart reached more people than ever, and we are hoping to exceed that this year. We always need more families to welcome children into their families forever.”

November is Adoption from Foster Care Awareness Month in Minnesota. When children end up in Minnesota’s child protection system, our highest priority is to reunify them safely with their families. When that’s not possible, the department and its partners seek relatives willing to adopt children. Last year, relatives adopted nearly 60% of the children adopted from foster care. And sometimes the department and its partners also need to create new families so that children can have safe, loving, permanent homes.

The virtual Circus of the Heart activities from Nov. 1 to 7 will include a family dance party, art contest, scavenger hunt, cooking challenge, performing arts presentation, prizes, trivia game, award presentations, and videos from experts and an adoptive family.

More than 2,000 adults and children who pre-registered will receive a Circus of the Heart box filled with art supplies, ideas for family activities, gift cards and small prizes for children. Those who did not pre-register can still participate via MN ADOPT’s Facebook page.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services, MN ADOPT and other partners are sponsoring the virtual event. More information about adoption is available from county and Tribal social service agencies, MN ADOPT, and the DHS website.