Kathie and Dominic Fohrenkam had often driven by Children's Bureau's Palmdale office and decided to attend one of the agency's information meetings. The couple was completely certified in three months and received a call asking if they would take in a then 1-year-old redheaded boy named Adrian.

For months, Children's Bureau and the Fohrenkam's tried to work with Adrian's young mother on various parenting skills through therapy and visitation sessions without success. When Adrian came up for adoption, Dominic and Kathie knew they would take him. "It's like he's always been a part of the family," Dominic added. The adoption became final on February 28, 2006.

Children's Bureau's adoption program has a high success rate of families staying together because of a unique "matching team approach", support system, training and follow-up program once a child is adopted. There are many factors that the agency considers when matching a family with a child that include the child's age, gender, health, history and special needs as well as how the child might fit in with a family's interests, activities, beliefs and perhaps even other children.

"Each child being considered as a match for a family is assigned a team of Children's Bureau professional staff to review their history and needs to make the best possible fit for the child and family," said Lou Graham, director of Children's Bureau's foster care and adoption program. "Children's Bureau works closely with these families to help them better understand how to handle the near and long-term effects they may encounter," she added.

The agency offers new families services that include 24-hour support, weekly social worker visits, support groups, ongoing training and a mentor program, as well as a "needs and services planning meeting" to plan for each child's individual needs 30 days after the child has been placed in the home and every six months after that.

In recognition of its effective program, Children's Bureau recently received funding in four geographic areas of Los Angeles County to provide additional adoption education and support services. This includes a mentor program, support groups, mental health services and linkage to other community resources a family might need. The mentor program is particularly unique as the mentors are all parent volunteers who have adopted children themselves through foster or kinship care. The program also includes educating the community about adoption and the further need for mentors, as well as providing community training for mental health therapists about adoption issues.

"When a family is ready to adopt and they choose Children's Bureau, our goal is to provide the information, services and support they need throughout the process and long after the final papers are signed. Our mission is to help these families stay strong, productive, and live successful lives," said Graham.

"These kids need a stable relationship. They need someone to listen to them and confide in. It's hard for them. I'm happy to listen...it's a joy and very rewarding when you see a positive change in them," said Fohrenkam.

For over 100 years, Children's Bureau remains a non-profit leader in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. More than 14,000 children and families are helped each year throughout Southern California with services that include foster care, adoption, school readiness, parenting classes, family resource centers, support groups, mental health counseling and more. Children's Bureau finalizes approximately 150 adoptions and serves more than 500 children in foster care every year. It is one of the largest private, non-profit adoption agencies in California and one of the few that is nationally accredited by the Child Welfare League of America. For more information, please call (800) 730-3933 or visit www.all4kids.org.