National Adoption Day celebration set for Nov. 18
Over 20 children will find forever homes the Saturday before Thanksgiving and the community is invited to celebrate as well as learn more about children living in foster care.
National Adoption Day is Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon and will be celebrated at the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center, 2440 W. 28th St., at the corner of Avenue B (across from Kneaders).
The event will include a proclamation from the Yuma County Board of Supervisors, snacks and drinks, clowns and costumed characters, face painting, balloon animals, and “Eddie the Eagle.” Additionally, “McGruff” from the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office will offer fingerprinting.
There will also be booths with representatives from the community to provide resources and information about how to help children in foster care.
According to a NAD press release, more than 1,453 children are in the foster care system in Arizona, waiting to be adopted. In Yuma County, approximately 367 children are in foster care, of whom 84 are waiting for permanent families.
“National Adoption Day is a collective effort to bring awareness to and focus attention on children being adopted,” said Mark Reeves, Superior Court Judge for Division One and Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court in Yuma County. “National Adoption Day falls on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year, National Adoption day is November 18, 2017, where 27 children are slated to be adopted in Yuma. This a rewarding day because children’s dreams come true by being adopted by foster parents, relatives and friends who are thankful that these children will receive permanent, loving homes.
“There are many participants who assist in making this day a success: Yuma Juvenile Justice Center, Department of Child Safety (DCS), Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Arizona Children’s Association (AZCA), Easter Seals, Arizona Baptist Children’s Services (ABCS), and countless more agencies, organizations and administrations who contribute to the adoption process,” he added.