Jo Ann Dollard, Director of Communications and Public Relations
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Chicago Tribune reporter Bonnie Miller Rubin’s Dec. 23 article – “Online adoption: avoiding a web of lies” – reported on some of the pitfalls of using the Internet in the adoption process. In the article, LSSI's Ruth Jajko stated: “In many cases, couples do not know the right question to navigate such an emotionally charged situation.”

On December 10, the Public News Service released a heartwarming story – “The Gift of Amy” – about Laura Mills, one of LSSI’s foster parents, whose adoption of Amy, 15 months old, was finalized in early December – just in time for Christmas. The story was picked up by 11 radio stations around the state.

The Rev. Amy Ziettlow wrote a blog, “Missing a Parent During the Holidays,” for the national Huffington Post on Dec. 4 and mentioned that she recently spent time at a prison helping with LSSI’s Storybook Project, which provides volunteers who assist incarcerated parents in recording a book and message for their children. She cites an amazing statistic that one out of 28 children in the U.S. has an incarcerated parent.

The November 25 Aurora Beacon News reported that LSSI’s foster children and their families were invited to a final dress rehearsal of “Annie” at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. The story, “Paramount welcomes special guests for ‘Annie,’” noted that the musical about an orphan seeking a forever family strongly resonated with the audience. After seeing the show, one boy said, “I learned there’s hope for tomorrow.”

Linda Reiss, who oversees LSSI’s child welfare services in southern Illinois, says the increase in reports of neglect and abuse of children may be because “People are much more aware and more vigilant about saying something, if they see neglect or abuse,” in a Nov. 24 article, “Child abuse, neglect reports rise in region,” in The Southern.