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| Happy family at a previous Adoption Day |
by Dennis Tivey, Communication & Outreach Coordinator
This year's jubilant Adoption Day event marked the end of foster care for seven children in the Santa Maria and Lompoc valleys as their adoptive parents became, simply, their moms and dads, after Judge Arthur Garcia finalized their adoptions.
Every November, Santa Barbara County hosts an Adoption Day event at the Santa Maria Juvenile Court. On Adoption Day, multiple children are officially adopted into their forever homes, and the families are celebrated with a party in the foyer. This year's event took place on Wednesday November 16.
The event coincides with National Adoption Month, a nationwide initiative designed to increase awareness of the need for permanent families who can parent youth currently in the foster care system.
Santa Barbara County finalizes nearly 90 foster youth adoptions annually, while close to 100 youth remain waiting for their forever families. For more information, contact Gustavo Prado or visit www.OurCountyOurKids.org.
Above: Family photo from the 2013 Adoption Day event