Everyone who adopts a child has a story. Some of us adopt through foster care, some of us through family, some through an independent private adoption, and some through other circumstances. In 2006, I adopted my daughter, Gabriella, through a private adoption and started my adoption story.
Because I lived in Naples, and was a practicing attorney here, I did not want my life story to be played out in Naples. I filed the adoption in Tampa and finalized the adoption at the Tampa Courthouse. Once our adoption was finalized, I learned that there was a national event being held in Tampa to celebrate adoptions. National Adoption Day is held each November and focuses on the adoption of children from foster care. Intrigued with the event, I began checking into what we did in Collier County to celebrate National Adoption Day.
I found that while Lee County celebrated the day, Collier County did not. Thus, a perfect partnership was formed with the Children’s Network of Southwest Florida to promote National Adoption Day in Naples. In Collier County, the adoptions occur the day before National Adop-tion Day, on Friday, and the Lee County adoptions occur the next day, on Saturday. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of National Adoption Day in Collier County, and this special event will be held at the Collier County Courthouse on Friday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m.; it has not yet been determined how many children will be adopted that day but, currently, there are seven.
Adoption proceedings are normally closed to the public; the courtroom is cleared to allow the families privacy and the adoptions themselves are sealed, which means that no member of the public can look at the court records and determine who was adopted or by whom. On National Adoption Day, the proceedings are public and the courtroom is not closed (although the records are still sealed). While some families choose to keep their adoptions private, those who place their adoptions on the National Adoption Day docket agree that members of the community can attend and be a part of their story.
This day is a celebration of adoptions. Most people who are adopting children bring their entire family. Oftentimes, this means 10 to 15 family members all joining in to celebrate these children finding their forever families. There is a celebration afterwards in the courthouse atrium, with all of the children receiving gifts, participating in face painting, receiving balloon animals, and enjoying light snacks. It is truly a joyous occasion.
There are so many children out there who still need homes. Heartgalleryofamerica.org showcases children who currently are available for adoption. There are also always opportunities for people to foster a child or children. You can find information on becoming a qualified foster parent at www.childnetswfl.org. Many adoptive parents are those who fostered children during their time of need and, during the process, had an opportunity to provide the child with a permanent home.
Last year, I took my daughter, Gabriella, who is now 11 years old, with me to the National Adoption Day event. Not only did it allow her to experience what it was like when her dad and I adopted her, but it allowed her to participate in the process and give back to the community.
For more information on this event, email Tamara at Tamara@nicolafamilylaw.com.