The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services celebrated on Saturday the adoption of more than 140 children by more than 95 families as part of the 26th annual National Adoption Day.
The ceremony took place at the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Courthouse in Monterey Park and also involved the Alliance for Children’s Rights and Public Counsel.
“The court is honored to celebrate National Adoption Day and to recognize its lasting impact as children secure safe, loving, and permanent homes as their adoption is finalized,” Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia II said.
“The annual celebration also serves as an important call to action for those who are considering caring for and providing children a safe and nurturing home.”
The court’s judicial officers from across the county volunteered to preside over Saturday’s adoption proceedings.
“National Adoption Day is a joyful reminder of what’s possible when love, advocacy, and community come together,” said Cynthia J. Billey, director of Adoptions at the Alliance for Children’s Rights.
“Each year, we celebrate the families who open their hearts and homes, and the extraordinary efforts of social workers, judges, children’s attorneys, pro bono attorneys, and our coalition of partners and supporters who make these adoptions possible. Together, we’re creating lasting stability and belonging for children who deserve nothing less.”
National Adoption Day is traditionally held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and celebrates the adoption of children in Los Angeles County and across the country.
The program began in the late 1990s, spearheaded by the court’s former presiding judge of the Juvenile Court, Michael Nash. The Los Angeles model led to the launch of National Adoption Day in 2000 by a coalition of national partners, including the Alliance and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which has since expanded to courts in more than 400 communities throughout the Country.
Source: NBC Los Angeles