Traveling photos foster adoption

One group of six siblings, age 13 months to 13 years, needs a permanent home.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A display of photographs of local children looking for adoptive parents is making its way around the county.
The display started out late last month at the Butler Institute of American Art branch in Howland, unveiled as part of an observance of November as national Adoption Month.
The photographs, taken by local photographer Diana Lynn, who donated her work on the project, then moved to the lobby outside of the Trumbull County Probate Court offices in the courthouse.
This week, it moves to ACOP on Niles Road Southeast. ACOP stands for the Alliance Community Outreach Program.
Phyllis Johnson, senior supervisor of foster care and adoption for Trumbull County Children Services, said she knows of at least two couples who came to the event at the Butler specifically because they were interested in adoption.
They signed up to begin taking the pre-service training class that begins in January. That class is 10 weeks long and is the first step to become licensed to become a foster or adoptive parent.
Attracting attention
Thomas A. Swift, probate judge, said the majority of people coming into his offices have stopped to look at the display, and many have seemed interested in the idea of adoption.
Judge Swift said he first saw the display at the Butler and agreed to let the display come to his offices next. "We get a lot of traffic coming in and out of here," the judge said.
Robert Kubiak, Children Services executive director, told Judge Swift he thought December would be a great time for the display -- "at Christmastime when kids are looking for a permanent home," the judge said.
Judge Swift said he even has a couple of staff members considering adoption after seeing the display. "One is pretty serious if her husband agrees," the judge said.
"It's just an amazing thing. It tears at your heart," Judge Swift said of seeing children who need a permanent home. "There are these beautiful children looking for a home. ... Just about everybody looks at it. And we've had a lot of inquiries."
Information available
The display includes fliers giving information about adoption. Judge Swift's workers have been asked a lot of questions, and the questions are being referred to Children Services.
The display shows individual children, such as Rebecca, age 5; and sibling groups, such as the six children ages 13 months to 13 years named Colleen, Noah, Joseph, Lee, Theodore and Claudia.
Johnson said that after the display leaves ACOP, she plans to talk to the Black Ministerial Alliance to see whether its pastors will permit the display to be moved around to various churches.
She feels there are people in the community who are interested in fostering or adopting children who "just haven't taken the first step," and she hopes the display will encourage them to come forward.
"We're hoping by getting out into the community, we can reach the people who are interested," she said.
Johnson said it can be challenging finding just the right home for a sibling group or teenagers.
For example, the six children live in a foster home in Southington, and it would be best for the children if their adoptive home also is in Southington.
The kids have been in the department's custody for 22 months and have become very active in church and have made a lot of friends in the community, she said.
runyan@vindy.com