Children Waiting
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Shelton
Age 17
Shelton is a teenager who loves to be outside. He enjoys fishing or doing any kind of outdoor activity. He also enjoys woodworking projects and creating different things. 
He's a kid who values people more than material possessions and says that his adoptive family wouldn't have to have a lot of money. As long as they are kind to him, pay attention to him and do activities with him, he says he would be happy. 
Shelton wants to be adopted and is very clear about why he can't live with his birth family. Shelton's foster parents describe him as "a hard working kid" and enjoy having him in their home.
For more information on Shelton, click here.
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Congratulations!
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Six children achieved permanency this month with their adoptive families, including a sibling group of five and a little female toddler. Our congratulations to the children and their wonderful families.
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Contact Us
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If you suspect abuse or neglect, please call:
740-592-3061
(M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm)
1-877-477-0772
(After-hours, weekends, holidays)
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If you would like more information on foster care and adoption, please call: 740-592-3061 (M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm)
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Greetings!
Athens County Children Services staff and board invite you to join them this Thursday, May 5 at the Foster Care Awareness Walk. With 80 children and youth currently in foster care in Athens County, it is important to raise awareness about what it means both to reside in foster care and to provide foster care.
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Walk for Foster Care Awareness
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May is Foster Care Awareness Month
 | | Photo by Jason Bash |
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the more than 500,000 American children in foster care and the 80 children currently in care with Athens County Children Services. These children and young adults are living away from their homes because their own families are in crisis and are unable to provide for their needs. We ask you to use this May as an opportunity to inform policymakers and leaders in the Athens community about the URGENT NEED for many more people to come forward and serve these young people as foster parents. Without permanent, nurturing relationships with adults, foster youth are far more likely than their peers in the general population to endure homelessness, poverty, compromised health, unemployment, incarceration, and other adversities after they leave the foster care system.
Like all children, youth in foster care deserve a sense of wellbeing and community involvement. Providing support to foster children and their foster parents can make an impact that lasts a lifetime. We hope community members will consider how they can help by serving as foster parents, kinship caregivers, advocates, or volunteers. No matter how much time you have to give, you have the power to do something that will make a lasting difference in a young person's life. Please visit athenschildrenservices.com or call 740-592-3061 to find out about the many ways you can help.
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Kidfest 2011: Strong, Healthy Families
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Photo by Jason Bash
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On April 30, over 2000 children and parents flooded the Ohio University Convocation Center for the 22nd Annual Kidfest. The event, which is hosted by Athens County Children Services, was sponsored in part by Ohio University Athletics, United Healthcare, Ohio University Credit Union, Pepsi, Live Healthy Appalachia, Rocky Brands, Power 105, Precision Imprint, and the Athens Messenger.
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Photo by Jason Bash
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Over 700 area schoolchildren were given free tickets to Kidfest, made possible by the following businesses: Century National Bank, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, Mathews Insurance, The Athens News, Attorney Frank Lavelle, Tad and Ann Grover, The Plains Lions Club, The Plains Volunteer Fire Department, All American Trophy and Sports, Ralp Hartman Holdings, The Plains Subway, White's Mill, Nelsonville Community Bank, Carpenter & Associates Financial, and People's Bank.
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Photo by Jason Bash
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Thanks to the Kidfest Planning Committee, our wonderful performers, Jason Bash for taking photos of the event, and our hard-working volunteers from Alpha Phi Omega, Beta Alpha Psi, The OU Campus Involvement Center, ComCorps, Live Healthy Appalachia, Hocking Valley Community Residential Center, and Athens County Children Services. A special thanks to the over fifty businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies, safety agencies, and organizations who made Kidfest a full day of hands-on fun and education.
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Photo by Jason Bash
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Ohio Budget: What you can do
As Ohio heads into a new biennial budget, many difficult decisions will have to be made. With a projected $8 billion dollar deficit, cuts will be felt across the state. Athens County Children Services has endorsed the efforts of Advocates for Ohio's Future, which represents the health and human services, early care, and education agencies that provide the safety net for Ohio's most vulnerable citizens. We encourage you to become involved with Advocates for Ohio's Future, by going to their website and learning more about how to contact your representatives, and getting facts about the critical services received by vulnerable populations in Ohio - including children right here in Athens County. You can sign up as a supporter of the campaign by following this link. Many tough decisions lie ahead for our legislators, so please take the time to share with your friends, family, and legislators why health and human services funding in Ohio is important, how it has impacted your life, and your ideas for the future. |
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Upcoming Events
May 5, 2011 Walk for Foster Care Awareness Meet us at the Athens County Courthouse at 4:30 pm for an awareness-raising 2-mile walk to Athens County Children Services. There is no fee, so please come out and show your support for foster youth and foster parents in Athens County! May 31, 2011 Foster Care Information Meeting Are you interested in becoming a foster care provider? Please join us at our quarterly information meeting. Refreshments will be provided, and this is a great way to learn more about what it takes to become a foster parent! |
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Please, if you know of someone who would be interested in ACCS programs and news, forward this e-mail. Thank you again for your interest in the work that Athens County Children Services does. We appreciate your support!
Sincerely,
Sherri Oliver
Public Relations & Community Events Coordinator
Athens County Children Services
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