More than 120,000 American children live in foster care. After Thursday, that number is down a little, at least for Las Vegas, because of Adoption Day at Family Court.
Although adoptions are finalized all year-round in Clark County, Family Court likes to reserve one special day each year during National Adoption Month in November to celebrate new families.
Bright and early in the morning, 32 families gathered to finalize the adoption of 39 children.
"It is worth it to know that you are helping a family, a child, and knowing that your family is going to grow together and it makes it all worth it," said adoptive parent Jana.
Jana and John are here to make Jill their own. They say she was a part of the family from almost the very start, "They called us on her and we went and visited with her and the current foster home and she really almost had an immediate attachment to John. And we introduced her to our family and she spent time with us and she just kind of fit right in she just was happy to be there."
The Division of Family Services is only too happy to point out that adoptions like Jill's answer a huge need in the county.
"We have increased the number of adoptions that we finalized this year by 25-percent so we are right now a little over 300 adoptions after today and that's pretty amazing. It really is a commitment on our part to try and make sure we find those permanent homes for children and finding those families that we'll be committed to them forever," said Judy Tudor with DFS.
All the Family Court judges say this is the one day on the court calendar they really look forward to.
Next week on Wednesday's Child, we'll follow a family into the courtroom and see the adoption finalized. In the meantime, if you'd like to get started in the process of adopting, just call the Adoption Exchange at 436-6335.
Family Court likes to reserve one special day each year during National Adoption Month in November to celebrate new families.
The Division of Family Services is only too happy to point out that adoptions like Jill's answer a huge need in the county.
