Looking for Families At this very moment there are children in Vermont’s foster care system who need permanent families. These are old- er kids who because of unresolvable is- sues involving abuse or neglect are un- able to return to their families of origin. These children need adoptive families who will love and care for them. You can make a difference in a child's life. Please take a moment to consider be- coming the adoptive parent of an older child. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Give SRS a call to learn how you can help. Most children placed in foster care are able to return home. Those who don't are often adopted by their foster fam- ilies. But older, school aged kids who cannot return home safely, and whose foster parents are unable to make a per- manent commitment to them face an un- certain future. The hard truth is that as a child becomes older, the odds become increasingly difficult that he or she will find an adoptive family. Currently, there are a number of older children in Vermont waiting for adop- tive families. They range in age from six to sixteen, and while their stories differ, all of them share the funda- mental need to belong. That's where you can help. Adoptive families can be families with or without children, married, divorced or single. Individuals of all ages, in- comes and situations are encouraged to inquire. No fees are charged to adopt a child through the state, and in many cases an adoption subsidy is available to help families to adopt a child who could not otherwise afford to do so. There is a critical need for families will- ing to open their homes and hearts to de- serving older children in need of adop- tive parents. To find out more, please Contact Diane Dexter, Adoption Co- ordinator, at 241-2131 or inquire at the SRS District Office located in your area. Barre Area: Judith Blank (479-4260) Rutland/Bennington Area: Alice Nitka (773-5817) Morrisville/St. Albans Area: Linda Smith (688-4576) Burlington/Middlebury Area: Terry Casey (863-7370) March 1994 Newport/St. Johnsbury Area: Ken Gordon (748-8374) Hartford/Springfield/Brattleboro Area: Fran Churchill (885-4501) V Hardwick Chiropractic Dr. Grace Johnslone An in fegrafed approach to health care. 1 Mill S’r., Hardwick 472-3033 AIDS HOTLINES: Vermont 1-800-882-2437 New Hampshire 1-800-752-2437 New York State 1-800-541-2437 Massachusetts 1-617-522-4090 Maine 1-800-851-2437 National 1-800-342-2437 Canadian 1-6 1 3-5 63-2437 AIDS Community Awareness Project (ACAP) PO Box 608 St. Johnsbury VT 05819 (802) 748-1149 AIDS Community Resource Network (ACoRN) PO Box 2057 Lebanon NH 03766 (603) 448-2220 Bennington Area AIDS Project PO Box 1066 Bennington VT 05201 (802)442-4481 or 1-800-845-2437 Health Resource Organizations Brattleboro AIDS Project PO Box 1486 Brattleboro VT 05302 (802) 254-4444 (Helpline) (802) 254-8263 (Office) Franklin-Grand Isle AIDS Task Force P. O. Box 241, St. Albans VT 05478 (800) 524-7742 - (802) 638-7834 Friends Vermont Emotional, Spiritual, & Psychological Support PO Box 402 Bristol, VT 05443 1 800 639-3316 Gay/Lesbian Alcoholics Anonymous GLAA, P.O. Box 5653 Burlington, VT 05402 Lesbian Cancer Support Group (802) 660-8386 North Star (Holistic Health Care) RR2 Box 3255 Morrisville VT 05661 - (802) 888-2858 Vermont AIDS Council PO Box 275 Montpelier VT 05601 0 (802) 229-2557 Vermont C.A.R.E.S. (Committee for AIDS Resources, Education, and Services) PO Box 5248 30 Elmwood Avenue Burlington VT 05401 (802) 863-2437 (Burlington) 1-800-649-2437 (Rutland and Washington County support groups) Vermont Department of Health 1-800-882-2437 (AIDS Hotline) or (802) 863-7245 (AIDS Program office) VT PWA Coalition PO Box 1055 - Brattleboro, VT 05302 1-800-698-8792 or (802) 222-5123 Vermont Women’s Health Center 336 North Avenue Burlington VT 05401 0 (802)863-1386 L