The Lorain County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 7 proclaimed November as National Adoption Month and received remarks from Kristen Foxburke, executive director of Lorain County Children Services.

Foxburke said the agency stands with families who provide permanent, loving homes for children and thanked staff and community partners. She reported that 237 children were in foster homes, with kinship caregivers or in congregate care settings in Lorain County and that 23 children were currently seeking permanency through adoption; the prior year 22 children were adopted, with an average custody time of about 21 months before finalization.

When a commissioner asked whether Children's Services would seek a levy next year, Foxburke said the agency was still evaluating options. Foxburke also said levy revenue makes up about 52 percent of the agency’s budget, with the remainder from state and federal funding. Commissioners and staff used the proclamation event to highlight the agency’s work and introduced two adoptive families and Judge James Walther, who oversees local adoptions.

The proclamation was presented and signatures were witnessed by the commissioners.