For the First Time Ever, National Adoption Day Reaches All 50 States to Finalize More Than 3,300 Adoptions From Foster Care
Saturday November 18, 9:00 am ET
Coast-to-Coast Events Bring Thousands of Families, Judges and Adoption Advocates to Celebrate Adoption and Raise Awareness of the Need for More Adoptive Families
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of courts in all 50 states opened their doors today to finalize adoptions of children from foster care and to celebrate all families that adopt. More than 3,300 children were adopted into permanent families as a result of National Adoption Day celebrations in more than 250 communities nationwide.
Coast-to-coast festivities kicked off in Los Angeles where more than 200 foster care adoptions were finalized. Los Angeles is the birthplace of National Adoption Day, which is modeled on the "Adoption Saturday" program that has helped thousands of Los AngelesCounty foster children join permanent, loving families. As in previous years, Judge Michael Nash of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court oversaw the adoption proceedings. He was joined by representatives of national and local organizations who have played a key role in helping connect and support children and their new adoptive families.
"The holiday season is a time for family, and it is so rewarding to know that we have helped these children find a permanent family of their own," said Rita Soronen, Executive Director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a founding sponsor of National Adoption Day. "This day not only honors those families who have been formed but also the work of judges, lawyers, court personnel, agency staff and organizations who dedicate years to achieve a better future for children in foster care. Experiencing the joy of National Adoption Day reminds all of us of what we can accomplish."
For the first time ever, events are taking place in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. National Adoption Day started in 2000 with only 9 jurisdictions participating and has grown rapidly over six years to span every state and every major city in the United States.
The goal of National Adoption Day is to raise awareness about the importance of finding families for the 114,000 children who are still waiting in the system for permanent homes. The day also builds collaboration among local adoption agencies, courts, and advocacy organizations and communicates the availability and need for post-adoptive services.
"We are pleased that so many people across the country are participating in this national celebration of adoption from foster care," said Judge Michael Nash, Presiding Judge, Juvenile Court, Los Angeles. "There are children waiting in every community and it is critical that courts and child welfare advocates do what they can to ease the adoption process for the children in their care and at the same time raise awareness of the need for more adoptive families."
National Adoption Day events are sponsored by a coalition dedicated to improving the lives of children, including The Alliance for Children's Rights, Casey Family Services, Children's Action Network, The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Freddie Mac Foundation and Jockey International.
There are approximately 523,000 foster care children in the United States, and 114,000 of them are available for adoption. Since 1987, the number of children in foster care has nearly doubled, and the average time a child remains in foster care has lengthened to nearly three years. Each year, approximately 20,000 children in foster care will age out of the system without ever being placed with a permanent family.
"The national sponsors of National Adoption Day hope that today's celebrations encourage more families to give children permanent homes through adoption," said Maxine B. Baker, President and CEO, Freddie Mac Foundation, a sponsor of National Adoption Day. "This day would not be possible without the hundreds of families who open up their homes and hearts to children in foster care who are in search of a permanent place to call home."
On National Adoption Day 2006 foster care adoption and the children fortunate enough to find permanent homes will be celebrated through the country:
* The New York City Family Court is celebrating Adoption Week by
finalizing the adoptions of 245 children. The boroughs of New York City
will be opening each of the NYC Family Courthouses, starting on November
13 in RichmondCounty and ending November 17 in the Bronx. Each day of
adoptions will be followed by celebrations honoring the new families.
* On November 18, Washington, D.C. will hold their "Adoption Day in Court
Celebration" with the help of the District of Columbia's Superior Court
and Child and Family Services Agency. With the theme of "Enriching
Families One Child at a Time," the celebration will include local DC
Officials, such as the Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth, Families and
Elders, and various city councilmen, as well as Maxine Baker, President
and CEO of Freddie Mac Foundation. Barbara Harrison, News Anchor of
WRC-TV Channel 4, and Host of the Wednesday's Child Feature, will be the
Emcee. The luncheon following the 35 adoption ceremonies will feature
entertainment including the Metropolitan Police Division's Band, and the
poetry and artwork of the children expressing what the adoption means to
them.
* The states' first ladies are joining the celebrations in a number of
cities: Ann Holton, the First Lady of Virginia, will be the keynote
speaker at Richmond's finalization of nearly 40 adoptions; Former New
Mexico First Lady Alice King will help celebrate the 25 adoptions taking
place in Albuquerque; and in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, Susan Carlson,
former First Lady of Minnesota, will be honored for founding of the
Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome at an evening gala,
fundraiser and silent auction.
* States including Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington
have expanded the reach of National Adoption Day within their own
jurisdictions, by coordinating events in multiple cities and counties
across the state.
Individuals can learn more about foster care adoption and the events taking place locally by visiting
National Adoption Day Coalition Partners
The Alliance for Children's Rights -- The Alliance for Children's Rights is Los Angeles' only free legal services organization devoted solely to helping children living in poverty and foster care. The Alliance's mission is to ensure children get the support and services they need to become healthy, productive adults.
Casey Family Services -- Casey Family Services is the direct service agency of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the nation's largest private foundation serving fragile U.S. children, families and communities, started by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey. Casey Family Services has worked with foster and adoptive families for nearly 30 years and is dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children here in the United States.
Children's Action Network -- Formed in 1990 by leaders in the entertainment industry, the Children's Action Network (CAN) is dedicated to improving the lives of America's children. Through extensive public education campaigns, community-based programs and policy initiatives, CAN uses the power of the entertainment community to increase awareness about children's issues and to make them a top priority in everyday life.
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute -- CCAI is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the tens of thousands of foster care children in this country and the millions of orphans around the world. CCAI strives to accomplish its mission by serving as an informational and educational resource to policymakers and works in collaboration with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, which is a bicameral, bipartisan caucus, with more than 190 Members of Congress.
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® -- Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's® Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants, established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in 1992 to help the thousands of children throughout the United States and Canada who are waiting to be adopted from foster care. In collaboration with national and local adoption, funding and policy partners, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption works to assure that adoption through the foster care system is streamlined, affordable and accessible to any family wanting to adopt.
Freddie Mac Foundation -- Created by Freddie Mac in 1991, the Freddie Mac Foundation is dedicated to creating hope and opportunity for children and their families. As one of the largest corporate funders in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region, Freddie Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation have invested nearly $250 million in nonprofit organizations serving children and families.
Jockey International -- Jockey International has been dedicated to giving back to families for more than 130 years. In 2005, Jockey launched Jockey Being Family(TM), its citizenship initiative committed to strengthening adoptive families for successful futures. Jockey focuses its giving on organizations that provide critical post-adoption services necessary to build strong families and loving, permanent homes for children.
Source: National Adoption Day Coalition