Rotary Roundup: Adopting appreciation for children
Sandy DeLuca from the Summit County Children Services spoke to the Twinsburg Rotary Club recently as part of the club's monthly luncheon.
DeLuca is the homefinding recruiter for the organization and has more than 20 years of experience in developing and managing marketing-related events and activities to recruit foster and adoptive families. She has a bachelor of science degree in advertising from Kent State University.
DeLuca discussed foster care and adoption, explaining that foster care is temporary care provided to children lasting from an overnight stay to a stay of a year or more.
Children are removed from their homes when they are abused, neglected or identified as being dependent. If no relative is available or identified, children can be placed with foster parents on a temporary basis.
Foster parents provide a loving, secure, caring and safe place for children to live, and priority is placed on keeping children in their neighborhoods and schools, DeLuca explained. Sometimes, foster parents are asked to work with birth parents to promote effective reunification.
All foster parents receive support from foster home coordinators, including ongoing training, funds for clothing, medical, dental and vision care and mileage reimbursement.
Adoption, by contrast, is a legal process that creates a relationship between parents and children not born to them, DeLuca explained. Adoptive parents become legally, morally and financially responsible for all aspects of a child's care. Reunifying children with their birth parents is always a primary goal. Summit County Children Services offers support groups and referral services to families who adopt. Families who adopt through children services incur minimal costs, which can be reimbursed by the agency.
Most children are eligible for subsidies. The state Post-Adoption Special Service Subsidy is also available to families who qualify. PASSS provides funding for services to help families maintain their adopted child.
DeLuca was knowledgeable and enthusiastic in her approach. The Rotary Club of Twinsburg meets every Wednesday at noon at Marcellita's Restaurant and welcomes those interested to see what Rotary is all about. Contact membership co-chair Jason Werny at 614-787-7634or by e-mail at Jason_L_Werny@homedepot.com, for more information.