newsColorado Judicial Branch
Mary J. Mullarkey, Chief Justice
Gerald Marroney, State Court Administrator
Nov. 14, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Karen Salaz
303/837-3633
1-800-888-0001 Ext. 633
National Adoption Day uniting foster children with permanent families
More than 40 adoptions set for Nov. 18in Denver
National Adoption Day will be celebrated in Denver Juvenile Court by finalizing the adoption of more than 40 foster children who will be officially united with permanent families. The proceedings will be conducted throughout the day on Nov. 18, 2005, at the DenverCity and CountyBuilding. This is the inaugural year for Denver’s participation National Adoption Day celebrations.
“Uniting a child with a permanent loving family is truly a celebration,” Judge Karen Ashby, presiding judge, Denver Juvenile Court. “National Adoption Day both celebrates the families who adopt and raises awareness of the thousands of children in foster care still waiting for families.”
The Denver events, which have been in the planning for a year, are being coordinated through Denver Juvenile Court and Denver Human Services in conjunction with other local and state child advocates. Activities will begin at 9 a.m. with a kick-off salute in the rotunda of the DenverCity and CountyBuilding. Lt. Governor Jane Norton, Allen Pollack, director, Denver Human Services Division of Family and Children’s Services and Judge Ashby will be among the speakers.
Denver Juvenile Court judges and magistrates who will be presiding during the adoption proceedings are Judge Dana Wakefield, Judge Orrelle Weeks, Magistrate Palmer Boyette, Magistrate Jeffrey English, Magistrate David Furman and Magistrate Kathleen Janski. The adoptions will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the various courtrooms.
Colorado is home to more than 800 children waiting for permanent families. One hundred of them are in Denver.
“In addition to celebrating this special day with those children and families who will have final adoption hearings we hope to raise awareness in the community that the number of children who are waiting for permanent homes families far exceeds the number of adoptive homes available,” adds Judge Ashby.
National Adoption Day, begun in 2000, is a national effort to raise awareness of the more than 118,000foster children waiting to be adopted on any given day throughout the U.S. Events celebrate and honor all the loving families who adopt and encourage others to adopt children from foster care. Nationwide thousands of children, parents, judges, volunteer lawyers, adoption professionals and child advocates gather for this special occasion.
Editor’s Note: For additional information please contact Barbara Bosley, Family Court Facilitator, Denver Juvenile Court, 1437 Bannock Street, Room 157, Denver, CO80202, (720) 865-8236, (720) 865-8270 Fax. Information on how to request cameras in the courtroomis available at
Denver Adoption Day Committee: Michelle Adams, Denver CASA; Eve Anderson, Bethany Christian Services; Robin Blackwell, Denver Juvenile Court; Barbara Bosley, Denver Juvenile Court; Sue Cobb, DDHS; Gretchen Cooper, DDHS; Deborah Gans, Attorney at Law; Amanda Hartzell, Adoption Alliance; Marietta Heinmiller, Denver Juvenile Court; Valerie Jenkins, CDHS; Stacy Keller, Adoption Exchange; Shana Kloek, Denver Juvenile Court; Bill Kottenstette, Office of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office; Kristin Marburg, Denver Juvenile Court; Tammie Raatz, DDHS; Renee Romero, Denver Juvenile Court; Tammy Rula, DDHS; Melanie Tem, Adoption Alliance; Jan Tomski, Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families; Linda Weinerman, Office of the Child’s Representative; Christine Zeman, DU Law Student.
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