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With as many as 2,000 kids in foster care in RI at any given time, Adoption Rhode Island, a non-profit 'adoption exchange', works with DCYF to place kids in permanent homes. Bridget Gieseke, Adoption RI's Fund Development & Donor Relations Coordinator, presented us with an in-depth introduction to how the program works and to its newest innovation, the Teen Focus Team. They are currently providing direct services to about 150 placements and follow-up services to thousands, while the Teen Focus Team works with an additional 45-50 teenagers who will likely never find a family home. Adopting a child through Adoption Rhode Island is free and provides a lifetime of follow-up if needed, as opposed to private adoptions, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars and cut the family loose once the adoption is final.
For more, go to http://adoptionri.org/