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They're maybe the most vulnerable population in any community and they're also
our future
It feels great
to have a family to care about
and actually be part of
It's been a wonderful
experience for us and I really hope other people
recognize the value
in this and that there are so many kids in need
At any given time
we have roughly 100 children
in Pima County
that are looking for that forever family
That permanent, loving family Congratulations, you've been adopted! (applause)
Our new case... Child welfare filings is up 60% from last year,
and it's just extraordinarily important
that were all collaborating in trying to
achieve the best outcomes for families and for children.
As you can see it's an incredible day to be celebrating children
and families
And were finalizing a number of adoptions in the park.
These are our courtrooms without walls
It's just a really an extremely satisfying process
to see these children finding their forever families and their
permanent loving homes so they can
go on and lead nurturing, loved and fruitful lives
Manuel... Fabian... Dominic... Carlos...
Did I get them right?
I've been in the kids lives
since they were all babies
And when the system came in and was involved with my niece
they removed all her kids. It's been two long years
you know, waiting for this day
And it's just been overwhelming all this time. It's just been,
like, very hard
And you know, just knowing the system is behind you. And you know it's just been
very hard for me and the boys but today has been such an overwhelming day
for myself and my boys. Which I'm sure it is for all the parents
who are adopting today
It's with great pleasure
that I say congratulations you've adopted! (Applause)
It's just like a big closure,
you know, involved here
But now I'm their mother
As of today. (Laughs)
This is the best part of our job
We usually do these on Monday's
in our courtrooms but when we
get to do adoptions in the park
it's something
totally off-the-charts how great it is. The camaraderie, and how happy the families are
and all the families who can make it and, really enjoying the experience. It's fantastic
Today is just really exciting. Just for all the fun the kids get to have
Adoption hearings, regular ones are exciting anyway but this is kind of amplified
for kind of the older kids to
know what's going on. So it's more of a special day for them
more of a celebration
What's going on today? I got adopted. Oh, really?
It's just a lot of fulfillment, and making a lot of families complete. So that's the fun of today.
It's just a lot of fulfillment, and making a lot of families complete. So that's the fun of today.
Zendra came into our home almost
a year ago
and she's
a bright star in our lives
To be able to have that
permanent connection with her
throughout the rest of our lives
is why we're doing this
For me it's a closure
It puts a name to all that I've worked for
You know, my journey in life
I moved around with family a lot and I finally found my parents
Just being with them
and having that experience with them
it was like, it had to be done. Some kind of closure to that, you know?
The child is free for adoption. Let me be the first to congratulate you as a new family. Congratulations. (Applause)
For anyone who is considering foster care or adoption, it is a wonderful process. And it is such a way to give back into and embrace the love and
affection that comes with the process comes with the process
It's been a wonderful
experience for us
and I hope that other people recognize the value
in this and that there are so many kids in need
You know all kids need that, support behind them
They need to know that they're loved, that there wanted
that they're going to be taking care of
That's all these kids ask for you know?
and I'm glad that I could do it for them and give it to them
having a mother and father finally having two people
that you know they care
and they're there for you all of the time, you know. Having a family,
is the best part
You have to realize that their kids
and they're going to be kids whether you have adopted them or whether you haven't
and if you're lucky, their behavior won't really change
and you know the child that you've got
and you can love them all you want to
and they can drive you crazy all they want to. (Laughs)
I think the best part of today was hearing the judge
formally
congratulate us on becoming a family
You know we have been the in our hearts for while and it's great
to have that expression into haven't were realized in this way
to know our children were not
with us, our grandchildren
were not with us
would it be
a terrifying
unacceptable
unacceptable because
because we want to be there for the hugs, and the kisses, and the timeouts
and the corners, and the whole nine yards
I just can't imagine our lives without them