Washington, D.C. – Today marks the start of National Adoption Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about adoption. To help kick the month off, the Freddie Mac Foundation is sponsoring, along with COG and NBC 4, an Adoption Expo this Saturday, November 6 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.

The event, which takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., is free to the public. It will feature free domestic, international, and public adoption resource materials, advice from experts in these fields, and testimonies from adoptive parents and children about their experience.

“This event is really for everyone, from the family who is curious about adoption to the person who has already made up their mind and is ready to adopt,” said Renette Oklewicz, Director of Foundation Programs at the Freddie Mac Foundation. Oklewicz was recently interviewed on The COG Podcast about the Expo and the motivation behind the Freddie Mac Foundation’s focus on adoption.

In addition to the discussion with Oklewicz, two additional podcasts on child welfare were recently recorded:

• Kamilah Bunn, Manager of COG’s Child Welfare Program, provides a brief 101 on adoption and foster care and discusses COG’s role in both areas.
• Gerson Paniagua, Chair of COG’s Foster Care Committee and Parent Resource Recruiter for Arlington County, and Bunn give an overview of achievements in foster care in the region over the past year and a summary of their goals for the future.