Adoption focus of month

Probate court, community leaders praise National Adoption Awareness Month

For Sarah Albert, Nov. 2 will never fade from her memory.

A process that began about two years ago finally culminated into her family legally becoming one.

As the Lake County commissioners last week adopted a resolution proclaiming November National Adoption Awareness Month, county Probate Court and the county Department of Job and Family Services have partnered to recognize the efforts and praise the actions of individuals choosing to help expand existing families or to help create new ones.

Unofficially billed “Adoption Day,” the ceremonious event held at the courthouse in Painesville focused on Albert, a Willowick resident who officially transitioned from foster care parent to adoptive parent of toddler siblings, 3 ½-year-old Gianna and 2-year-old Anthony.

Matt Battiato, director of JFS, said Judge Mark Bartolotta’s idea to celebrate National Adoption Month in the county is very special for foster and adoptive parents.

“Both kids were initially placed with JFS in January 2017. The department received permanent custody in June 2018. Sarah went through our foster parent training and certification process as a single person.

“Three months after she was certified, we placed Gianna and Anthony with her as a foster placement, working towards reuniting them with their birth parents,” he said. “That’s what we always do, we work toward reunification, about 12 months’ time. When that’s not possible, the juvenile court gives us permanent custody, which severs the birth parents’ rights. Then, we look for an appropriate adoptive home for the children.”

After monthly visits, the agency concluded Albert met all requirements

in providing a stable home, including support from her own extended family as well as some support from the children’s biological family.

“And we never want to do that, but if it’s in the best interest of the child, and clear the child can’t be reunited with the birth parents, we want to find a home like Sarah’s, one that’s going to be their parent forever,” Battiato said. “As often happens, the foster parents are also certified to adopt. The vast majority of our foster and adoptive parents are twoparent households, but it’s not unusual to have a single parent, as long as they go through the training, the certification and the home study process.”

At present, JFS has 45 foster parents throughout Lake County, 43 of which have an adoption licensure.

County Commissioners John Hamercheck and Dan

Troy both agreed the day is all about multiple entities, in additions to dedicated citizens, coming together to do something good.

“I can’t say enough about our foster care network in Lake County and how much they have done in stepping forward,” Troy added. “For whatever reason, children are separated from their biological families, whether it’s abuse, neglect or other circumstances. Thank God we have people that come to the rescue and intervene and make sure these kids have a chance.”

While elated to see her family now officially united, Albert, 33, cheerily said she never selfishly pursued adoption, but that her desire to help families and children had evolved, especially after meeting Gianna and Anthony and investing so much in them emotionally.

“I could never have imagined this situation two

years ago, but they were my first placement and even then, I couldn’t imagine them anywhere else other than with their birth family,” she said. “It’s always something I felt I’d be good at, and if they were going to be unable to reunite with their family, I wanted to provide for them.

“And obviously, there were times when things were difficult, with a lot of parties involved, a lot of moving pieces, but at the end of the day it’s all about taking care of the kids and doing what’s best for them.”

After Bartolotta informed Albert the process was complete and all the necessary documents signed, he acknowledged the new family.

“The ink is dry, congratulations, it’s a boy and a girl, you got a two-for-one today, and I do have to remind you that we have a no-return, no-refund policy,” he said, which was immediately met with laughter and cheerful applause. “Best of luck to you all and we hope to see great things from these two as they grow up.

“Fostering and adoption, it’s all about giving kids a chance to develop and to be nurtured in a loving environment,” Bartolotta added. “It restores faith. This has no political boundaries, it’s strictly a people thing, a humanity issue, and any time we can bring that to the public I’m happy to be part of it — it’s great for everyone.”

CHAD FELTON — THE NEWS-HERALD Lake County Probate Judge Mark Bartolotta approaches his own bench on Nov. 2 in Painesville during “Adoption Day” to confer with 3-1/2-year-old Gianna while her mother, Sarah Albert, laughs. Gianna’s 2-year-old brother, Anthony, was also adopted by Albert.