At 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis, Lewis County Superior and Juvenile Court and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families will celebrate the joys of adoption and encourage more people to give children permanent families through adoption, a news release announced this week.
A reception will follow at 2:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Law and Justice Center in Chehalis.
The celebration is part of a nationwide effort to call special attention to the more than 35,000 foster children waiting in the United States for adoption, and to celebrate all loving families that adopt.
Currently, there are 4,797 foster children in Washington state with 1,171 children legally free and waiting for adoption. In Region 6, which includes Lewis County, approximately 146 or more children have permanently lost their parents and are waiting to be adopted.
As part of National Adoption Day, Lewis County Superior Court Judge Paul A. Strophy will finalize the adoption of two siblings from foster care.
Judge J. Andrew Toynbee, Judge Joely Yeager, Court Commissioner Cailen Cecil, Superior Court Administrator Dahkota Harmanson, Assistant Superior Court Administrator Paula Willey, Juvenile Court Administrator Shad Hail, juvenile court dependency attorneys, child advocates and community stakeholders are all invited to attend and celebrate the adoption process.
Since 1987, the number of children in foster care nationally has increased, and the average time a child remains in foster care is two-three years. Each year, nationally, approximately 15,000 foster children will age out of the system without ever being with a permanent family.
National Adoption Day is sponsored nationally by the Alliance for Children’s Rights, Casey Family Services, Children Action Network, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Freddie Mac Foundation.
For more information, visit www.nationaladoptionday.org.
Those interested in more information on becoming a foster parent can contact Elaine Peet of the Division of Licensing Resources at 360-807-7107.
Those interested in becoming a court appointed special advocate (CASA) for a child can contact Lewis County Juvenile Court Appointed Guardian ad Litem Program coordinators at 360-740-2683 or 360-740-2688.
