Minnesota families who adopted children from foster care in the past year and those considering adopting foster children will have a chance to celebrate and learn more at an upcoming free event.

The 26th annual “Celebrate Adoption: Circus of the Heart” event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Attractions in the fair’s North End Events Center will include arcade games, crafts, prizes, music, mascots, clay art, henna art, face painting, outdoor activities and photo opportunities. Parking is free.

Adoption experts will also be available to answer questions about adoption from foster care.

Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead will give the welcome address at the event, which is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Foster Adopt Minnesota and other partners.

“Children need stable, nurturing families,” Harpstead said. “When foster children can’t return home for one reason or another, we work with our partners to find permanent families who can best meet children’s cultural, emotional, mental health and physical health needs, particularly for older children and sibling groups. Adoption can have a meaningful and profound impact on the lives of all involved.”

The state’s first priority is to safely reunite foster children with their families. When that isn’t possible, the secondary goal is to find permanent families for foster children.

Families adopted 1,006 Minnesota children from foster care in 2022. Of the 522 foster children still waiting for permanent families in Minnesota:

• 59% are 12 to 18 years old, 21% are 6 to 11 and 20% are under 6
• 46% are siblings who need to be adopted together
• 31% are white, 29% are black/African American, 28% are two or more races, 8% are American Indian, 3% are Asian/Pacific Islander, and the race of 2% is unknown or not provided
• 68% have special needs, including physical, mental, emotional or behavioral disabilities.

More information about adoption is available from country or Tribal social service agencies, Foster Adopt Minnesota at www.fosteradoptmn.org, or the Department of Human Services’ website at https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/children-and-families/services/adoption/.