Farm in Odessa hosts child adoption awareness day

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Old McMicky's Farm and two local organizations are teaming up to find permanent homes for children in need.

Together they are organizing the Child Adoption Education Day on September 28th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event is designed to educate people about some misconceptions surrounding who is available for adoption and to emphasize the importance of foster care and adoption in our area.

“It's high. We need families who understand that our children come from difficult backgrounds but still need stability,” says Nyla Williams, director of child welfare and clinical support at Family Support Services in Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Children between the ages of 0 and 17 are available for adoption, but the greatest need is for teenagers and siblings.

“The process is really doable. You don't have to be a perfect family to be perfect for a child, right? So we just want to make it clear to families that there are resources to support them. We want them to understand that we are here for them. There is post-adoption support, there are the steps available,” said Rosaline Stuckey, adoption director for the Children's Network of Hillsborough County.

“I believe it's widely held that children need a loving, caring, supportive family. All children have the right to know that they deserve to be loved. And if you've been thinking about adoption, this is a great way to start the process. There will be representatives from all of the agencies here. They'll walk you through the process, but there will also be adoptive families that you can hear from about what it means to them and their lives. And in just one simple morning, you can learn anything you want to learn. And we encourage people to come by,” said Ralph Zuckerman, owner of Old McMicky's Farm.

Those interested in adopting must be at least 21 years old and pass a background check.

If you are interested, you can register here.