A constant flow of interested people came into Saturday’s adoption fair at First United Methodist Church, and what they found was information on the options available to them, as well as support services they can utilize after the adoption.

Some 50 to 60 people were expected to attend, said Christine Arterburen, adoption coordinator for the Adoption Resource Center in Bowling Green. The event is held every other year and is always held in November as part of Adoption Awareness Month.

“A few adoption agencies are here who can give people information on both state and international adoptions,” she said.

In addition to information, there were also sources to aid parents who have already adopted, a place where children could have their fingerprints made, and fun things for children to do, such as face painting, Arterburen said.

All families who adopt need support, said Georgie Hammond, parent liaison for Adoption Support for Kentucky. Hammond runs support groups for parents who have adopted children in both Bowling Green and Glasgow.

“I’ve also been a foster parent for 19 years and have four adopted children,” she said.

Children who are adopted often have some issues, said Hammond, who tries to offer these parents any kind of support they need - from finding a therapist to locating an orthodontist.

The support groups give parents someone to talk to about any questions they might have, she said - although before the adoption there are social workers to help, some may question where they go after the adoption is final.

One of the biggest issues is that adoptive parents often think they’re the only ones who are experiencing that type of problem, said Maryann Busser, who also is a parent liaison. The support groups, however, help them see that others have experienced much of the same.

“They can often give advice to help or provide the name of someone who will be able to help,” she said.

Both local support groups average between 20 and 30 attendees, Busser said.

Parents need support while going through the adoption process, Hammond said, because the process can take a long time.

“The paperwork takes time, the home study takes time,” she said. “We have to assure them they did things correctly and to be patient.”

Melanie Duke of Alvaton - who has adopted a son from Russia and a daughter from Guatemala and was part of the parents panel at the event - said those wanting to adopt need to understand there will be bumps in the road. International adoptions can come with long delays, Duke said, and the children could come have health problems the adoptive parents were unaware of.

“Parents need to keep faith in God - he’ll get you the family you’re supposed to have,” she said.