November is recognized as National Adoption Month, the purpose of which is to focus attention on children in the child welfare system that are in foster care and “freed,” meaning they are waiting to be adopted.

County Executive Mangano stated “This is a wonderful and inspiring celebration. Nassau County is dedicated to building and strengthening our families. We are devoted to ensuring every child freed for adoption has a permanent, loving family. Our goal is a family for every child and we are fortunate to have a number of foster and adoptive families who want to provide children in foster care with permanence.”

“The Family Court of Nassau County is thrilled to participate in providing safe, loving and permanent homes for the children of our County”,” added Supervising Judge Edmund M. Dane.

“The Long Island Children’s Museum’s partnership with the Department of Social Services and Family Court allows us collectively to support and enrich Nassau County’s children and families,” notes LICM President Suzanne LeBlanc. “We are honored to once again host Nassau County’s “Adoption Day” and to share in the excitement as “forever families” are made and celebrated.” The Children’s Museum will provide each new family with a complimentary year- long membership to the Museum.

“This is our fourteenth successive year participating in National Adoption Day,” added Social Services Commissioner Dr. John E. Imhof. “Since first celebrating this day in 2002, we finalized a total of 231 children during the last thirteen Adoption Day celebrations. We continue to work hard to find nurturing and loving foster and adoptive parents for every Nassau County child needing a permanent home and family. I encourage anyone who may be interested in fostering or adopting to call the Department of Social Services Foster and Adoptive Resource Unit at 516-227-8284 for further information.”