MEIGS COUNTY — The Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services (DJSF), Athens County Children’s Services and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption are pleased to enter into a partnership through the foundation’s signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids.

Through a grant made possible by the Ohio DJFS and administered by the Athens County Children’s Services, this intensive, child-focused recruitment program will help to identify permanent adoptive homes for children in Meigs County and several surrounding counties in southeast Ohio.

Studies have shown that the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program has positive outcomes for children over the age of 15, whose likelihood of adoption while working with a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter is three times higher than the state average.

“We are very excited about the opportunity for Meigs County children to work with a recruiter trained in the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids model and appreciate the efforts of Athens County Children’s Services to secure this grant and for giving Meigs and surrounding counties the opportunity to partner with them on this program,” said Chris Shank, director of the Meigs County DJFS.

The seven-county area that will be served by the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter includes Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Perry and Washington counties. Currently, there are 186 children in foster care in these counties, and of those children, 33 are legally free for adoption.

Southeast Ohio is the only region in the state without a large metropolitan pool of potential adoptive families from which to draw, which can make recruitment for children difficult. Additionally, five of the counties participating in the southeast Ohio arm of the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program currently have no financial support from a levy and have been hit particularly hard by cuts in the state budget.

For more information about becoming an adoptive or foster parent, please contact the agency at 740-992-2117, ext. 123 or visit the websites at 992caremeigs.com or www.meigsdjfs.net.