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Community Corner

The Adoption Option

Janice Halpern, Neighbor

Have you ever thought about adopting a child or sibling group?

There are over 600 children in Massachusetts
who are waiting for adoption right now. To learn if you may be the parent a
child is waiting for, come to “The Adoption Option,” Sunday, September 29, 9:00
- 11:00 am, at Jordan’s Furniture, 50 Walker’s Brook Dr., Reading,
MA.

Adults new to the idea of adopting a child from foster care will
attend a workshop in the IMAX theater to learn about the adoption process. New

families are encouraged to arrive promptly at 9:00 am for this “newcomers’

orientation” to make the best use of the Adoption Option’s resources and

opportunities. They’ll also have the chance to meet with social workers and

experienced adoptive parents for private conversations.



 Prospective adoptive parents who have already begun the adoption

process will be able to meet Massachusetts’s
waiting children and their social workers in an informal setting. They’ll also
be able to talk with experienced adoptive families and enjoy family
entertainment, games, refreshments, and activities designed to encourage interaction
with waiting children.

“Adoption Parties are MARE’s most successful tool in placingchildren,” said MARE’s Executive Director Lisa Funaro. “These events allow families to meet face-to-face with children and make connections that may not happen otherwise. We are delighted to partner with Jordan’s Furniture to increase recruitment opportunities for children in foster care. These children want what most of us take for granted - the chance to blossom in a permanent, loving family.”  



 Prospective adoptive parents can be almost any age (18+); single,
partnered, married, LGBT; homeowners or renters; experienced parents or new to
parenting. Families of various income levels can adopt, as long as they have a
stable source of income to support a child. There are no fees to adopt a child
from foster care. Financial subsidies may be available, and children adopted
from foster care are eligible for a tuition-waiver at Massachusetts state colleges and
universities. 






For more information, or to register to attend The Adoption Option
at Jordan’s
Furniture, please visit www.MAREinc.org 
or call MARE at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678). 

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Jordan’s Furniture hosts the event in collaboration with the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) and the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families (DCF) to help find permanent families for children in state foster care.


MARE is a private, non-profit organization, founded in 1957 to find “a  permanent place to call HOME” for children and teens in foster care, including sibling groups and children who are traditionally harder to place.



Jordan’s
Furniture 
is a nationally known five-store furniture retailer. Their innovative
combination of entertainment and shopping has turned a local furniture store
into a major retailer, drawing customers from all over New

England. Philanthropy is a large part of the Jordan's business philosophy.

During their 15-year partnership with MARE, Jordan’s has generously hosted and
financed many information meetings and recruitment events. As a direct result
of Jordan’s support, more than 250 children have found adoptive homes.


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