MEDIA ALERT

April 23, 2007


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stephanie Kidd, Children Services Outreach Coordinator, (402) 978-5676

Lutheran Family Services Kicks Off Foster Care Awareness Month with 1,925 Balloons

Omaha, Neb.—Downtown Omaha and the Old Market will be festooned with 1,925 blue balloons on April 27 when Lutheran Family Services decorates in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month. LFS employees, foster families and volunteers will hit the streets Friday morning to decorate parking meters with bright blue balloons --- one balloon for every child in Omaha who is in out-of-home care.

“Omaha has a real need for quality foster parents,” said Matt Priest, LFS Foster Care Supervisor. “We are doing all we can to let people know there are kids in Omaha who need families willing to foster.” Lutheran Family Services currently represents 32 foster families, but Priest said they would love to have more families, allowing LFS to serve even more children.

“Foster Care Awareness Month is a great chance for us to recognize the families we currently work with, and acknowledge a need to recruit even more,” Priest said. “There are so many children who suffer from abuse or neglect. They all need a good home.”

In addition to the kick-off event on April 27, LFS also plans additional events for May, including:

• Foster Care Education Day at the Omaha Children’s Museum, May 19 from 10 am to 5 pm. Stop by the OCM and speak with staff from LFS about foster care and adoption.
  
  
• Foster Care Informational Meeting at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, May 29 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. All families interested in foster care are invited to come and meet the LFS Foster Care Staff. A panel discussion will feature insight from LFS foster care professionals, current foster parents and children in the foster care system.
  
  
• Community Support from Local Businesses --- Austin’s Steakhouse, Nine Months Maternity, P.E. 101, The Amazing Pizza Machine, Omaha Theater Company for Young People. These family-friendly businesses have all agreed to set up displays featuring foster care for the month of May. If you frequent these businesses in the month of May, please pick up some free information about LFS foster care. “I am thrilled to be able to do something the help support Foster Care Awareness Month,” said Molly Cutchall, manager of Nine Months Maternity. “Our store is very family-friendly, and this display gives us the chance to support foster families in a unique way.”
  
  
• Borders Inc. Book Display. To show support of the need for quality foster parents both Omaha Borders locations will features displays of books on foster care and parenting, including Practical Tools For Foster Parents by LFS Children Services Director Lana Temple-Plotz. “Borders is pleased to be able to support Lutheran Family Services and the need to provide quality homes to Omaha’s foster children,” said Josh Mayer, Borders Sales Manager.
  
  

For more information on Foster Care Awareness Month events, please contact Children Services Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Kidd at (402) 978-5676.

About Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska:
Thousands of families of all faiths are served through LFS programs and services that include counseling, addiction services, immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, prison aftercare, congregational support, foster care, adoption, respite care and disaster relief services. Learn more about LFS at www.lfsneb.org or call (402) 342-7038.

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