Odessa: Camp brings together kids and prospective parents
Camp Cool Kidz, a pilot project, aims to speed up the adoption process by doing a better job of matching children with new families.
By JOSH ZIMMER
Published March 26, 2004
ODESSA - Working a crowd is bread and butter for any politician.
The fact that everyone isn't a voter didn't seem to bother Gov. Jeb Bush during a visit this week to Camp Keystone. Taking a break from the lobbyists and elected officials, he exchanged views with another constituency: a bunch of cute kids looking for parents.
Clearly enjoying himself, he grabbed a paint brush and asked his newest group of advisers how they ought to decorate all those plaster figures.
Bush opted for the green, blue and red.
"This sure beats being in Tallahassee during the session," he said.
It wasn't all fun and games for Bush. Arriving to a more formal setting of local press and officials, he emphasized the need to raise adoption rates across the state.
The setting was Camp Cool Kidz, a weeklong program that's part of his administration's "No Place Like Home" initiative. The camp, a pilot project, aims to speed up the adoption process by doing a better job of matching children with prospective parents.
Hillsborough Kids, Inc., a nonprofit agency that handles foster care and adoptions for the state, is testing the program here.
Throughout the week, kids and adults interacted in the upbeat surroundings of the lakeside camp. At night, they returned home to continue the experiment in togetherness.
While half of the children in the system are adopted by their foster parents, 2,000 youngsters still go without homes, Bush said. He criticized current rules, which make it easier for adults to adopt children from other countries.
"That makes no sense to me," he said.
Camp Cool Kidz grew out of a similar event held for Russian children. Bush said his advisers learned of the idea and decided to support it.
The camp concept also has experienced success recently in the Orlando area, various officials said.
Surrounded by adoptive parents and a Brandon High School student looking for a home, Bush cited figures showing adoptions jumped 37 percent toward the end of last year. Camp Cool Kidz could pave the way for better results, he said.
"If it's successful this type of thing can be done all over the state," he said.
- Josh Zimmer covers the University of South Florida area, Keystone, Odessa and Citrus Park. He can be reached at 269-5314 or zimmer@sptimes.com
