Correspondent photo / Nancilynn Gatta Seantya Brown, Trumbull County Children Services resource worker, watches as children wait their turn to throw a basketball into the hoop during the agency’s annual carnival Tuesday at its Warren site.

WARREN — Showing appreciation for foster parents turned out to be fun for the whole family during a carnival Tuesday at the Trumbull County Children Services Warren location.

“We let (the foster parents) pick the fun. We have had sit down dinners and other events, but for the last three years we have had a carnival,” TCCS Executive Director Marilyn Pape said.

The event included summer cookout food such as hamburgers, hot dogs and kettle corn, as well as activities such as face painting, games with prizes for the kids, a bounce house and basket giveaways for the parents.

“It’s nice to see the kids having so much fun,” said Trumbull County Domestic Relations/Juvenile Division Court Judge Sam Bluedorn.

He said when he sees some of these children in court, it could be a much more stressful situation.

Tim and Nicole Hanna of Cortland have been foster parents for nearly 10 years, and right now they have nine children. Several of their children enjoyed the games and visited with friends on Tuesday.

“Originally, we took in foreign exchange students before we became licensed foster parents,” Tim Hanna said.

They have housed teens from Brazil, the country of Georgia and the Philippines, among other nations.

From that experience, Nicole Hanna said that they realized that “We prefer fostering older children.”

Their son, Anthony, 14, who was one of their foster children and is now their adopted son, took some time to decide which game he wanted to attempt first. There were numerous games to play, which were run by TCCS staff.

“The kids love coming to the carnival. They enjoy being with the other kids that they know from here,” Nicole Hanna said.

The Hannas are in the process of adopting three more of their foster children.

“Eventually, we will adopt eight,” Nicole Hanna said.

Her husband added that at that time, they will pause being foster parents.

Tina and Jared Kartchner of Boardman are foster parents of four children. The oldest is 11 and the youngest is a toddler.

“This is the first year that we came to the carnival,” Jared Kartchner said.

The children enjoyed themselves, especially the preschool aged girls who participated in throwing activities such as throwing a basketball in the hoop and a bean bag toss into areas of a painted clown’s face on a picture frame.

The event honored 10 of the 53 licensed foster caregivers in Trumbull County for their years of service.

“May is Foster Care Month and we recognized at our last board meeting caregivers with five years of service and for 10 years of service and for their dedication to caring for children who have been abused and neglected while their families receive services to create a safe and healthy home,” said Allesha Ciminero, Trumbull County Children Services Community Liaison and Recruitment Specialist.

“Our job is to ask people to take in strangers, love them and then let them go,” Pape said.

In recognition of the month, the Trumbull County Commissioners gave a resolution to the agency and its Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (FAPA) for its commitment to promoting the best interests of children in Trumbull County.