Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

More than 100 foster children will join new families during National Adoption Day events

                                                                                                      From:  Lorrie Thompson

                                                                                                                 360-705-5347

More than 100 foster children will

join new families next week during

National Adoption Day events

Washington courts will become host to dozens of family celebrations next week as more than 110 foster children are adopted into new families during National Adoption Day events taking place Nov. 14 – 17. Members of the public and media are welcome to attend the events and talk with families, adoption workers, court officials and other participants.

Taking part in this year’s National Adoption Day celebration are courts in the following counties: Benton/Franklin; Chelan/Douglas; Clark; Cowlitz; Island; King; Kitsap; Mason; Pierce; Skagit; Snohomish; Spokane; Thurston and Yakima. (See accompanying chart for event plans and contact names.)

“There are so many kids in our communities who wonder who will take care of them, and if they'll ever know the love of a family,” said Robyn Nance, honorary spokeswoman for Washington’s 2007 National Adoption Day celebration. “For lots of kiddos, National Adoption Day puts those gut-wrenching fears to rest forever,” she said.

Nance is an anchorwoman for KXLY4 News in Spokane and hosts the weekly feature, “Wednesday’s Child,” where she has visited with and filmed more than 100 foster children hoping to find new families. She helped establish a “Teen’s Closet” donated clothing store for foster teens in Spokane, and works as a Big Sister, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America.

Since 2000, there have been 8,186 children adopted from foster care in Washington. In fiscal year 2007 (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007), 1,280 children were adopted from the foster care system. Included in that are 139 who were adopted during National Adoption Day events in the courts in November, 2006.

In Washington, as of June 2007, more than 1,800 foster children have been permanently, legally separated from their birth parents and are waiting to be adopted. While many of these children have plans for adoption, about 300 foster children in Washington have no identified parents or families waiting to adopt them.

National Adoption Day was founded in 2000 by a coalition of national child welfare organizations hoping to raise awareness of the thousands of foster children available for adoption and awaiting permanent, “forever” families.  Nationwide, more than 114,000 foster children await adoption.

“Of all the things we can do to help foster children have better lives, nothing could be more beneficial than helping them find permanent, loving homes,” said Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge, who co-chairs the Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care. “We encourage individuals, families, businesses and community groups to join in National Adoption Day events in their communities and to learn more about foster adoption.”

“We are pleased to partner with the courts in one of the happiest occasions in the lives of these children and parents,” said Cheryl Stephani, assistant secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services’ Children’s Administration, who also co-chairs the Commission. “Foster children tell us over and over again they want to wake up each day as part of a family, knowing they are safe, loved and cared for.” 

The celebration in Washington is sponsored by the Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care, with support from the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Department of Social and Health Services’ Children’s Administration, and Northwest Adoption Exchange. Since the statewide event’s first year in 2005, more than 190 foster children have been adopted during the celebrations.

The Washington Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care was established in 2005 to study and improve court processes for foster children, with a goal of reducing their time in foster care. It brings together top officials from the courts, Children’s Administration, child welfare agencies, schools and foster parent groups as well as state legislators and more.

###

CONTACT:  Washington Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge, (360) 357-2049;  2007 National Adoption Day Honorary Spokeswoman Robyn Nance, (509) 893-1508;  King County Superior Court Judge Dean Lum, Chairman of the state’s National Adoption Day Steering Committee, (206) 296-9295;  NAD Steering Committee members Paulette Caswell of Northwest Adoption Exchange, (800) 927-9411 ext. 122;  Pam Kramer, Adoption Program Manager for DSHS Children’s Administration, (360) 902-7968.