Foster care youth Raynard 9 Dorthy 8 and Shangoria 10.

SUNRISE, FL – ChildNet, the community-based care lead agency in Broward and Palm Beach counties, recently held an Adoptions Mixer at Strikers Bowling Center in Sunrise to provide 25 children and prospective adoptive parents an opportunity to interact in a comfortable setting and get to know one another.

With more than 90 children available for adoption in Broward County, ChildNet strives to find forever families for each child in care as the single private non-profit entity responsible for administration of the local child welfare system. While there is more information available on the ChildNet website at ChildNet.us, here are the steps to becoming an adoptive parent:

1. Attend the orientation meeting.
2. Schedule the required 30 hour Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting training course.
3. Participate in a home study and in-depth assessment.
4. Once approved, the needs of a child or sibling group are matched with you and supervised and unsupervised visits are scheduled. When the child's counselor determines the child is ready, placement takes place.
5. Following placement of the child or children in your home, a counselor makes monthly visits over at least 90 days to assess the child's adjustment.
6. The counselor provides "consent to adopt" to your attorney.
7. Your attorney schedules a hearing before a judge to legalize the adoption.

For more information about becoming a foster or adoptive parent or to view children available for adoption in Broward County, visit www.childnet.us/portal/childnetadopt and call 954-414-6001.