Judge Robert Meadows oversaw 20 adoptions from a Fort Pierce courtroom Wednesday, Nov. 17. November is National Adoption Month.
33 Adoptions This Month
November 18, 2021
Fort Pierce –
"Do you understand that when the court grants this adoption today, it will be as if this child was born to you?"
These were the words asked over and over again Wednesday, as families came before Circuit 19 Judge Robert Meadows to finalize what for many has been a long journey to adoption.
There was no hesitation in any answer. Just a series of, "yeses," some barely contained excitement and many, many happy tears.
A total of 80 adoptions have finalized since July, when the clock started ticking on Communities Connected for Kids' fiscal year. Of that, 33 will finalize during the month of November, recognized since 1995 as National Adoption Month.
"Do you also understand that when Joseph throws a baseball in your neighbor's window, it will be your responsibility to pay for it?" Judge Meadows playfully asked one hopeful adoptive mom Wednesday.
Laughter, and an emphatic, "yes," followed.
"I have signed the adoption papers," he said. "Congratulations, you are now Mom."
Finding adoptive homes for children is something Judicial Circuit 19 does exceptionally well, said CCKids Community Relations Director Christina Kaiser, referring to the area of Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties.
The adoptions unit has exceeded its annual goal for at least six years, including a 43 percent increase over goal in 2020, when early pandemic concerns cancelled in-person court proceedings, Kaiser said.
"The goal this year is 153 adoptions," said Children's Home Society Adoptions Supervisor Kristine Tipton. "We're off to a good start."
Children's Home Society is part of CCKids' service network, providing adoptions services throughout the four counties and case management to Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee counties.
CCKids community of care communicates its needs regularly, and participates in projects like Forever Family, which leverages the power of local media to tell the stories of children looking for families.
In fact, some of the adoptions finalized this month were made possible by Forever Family segments that ran during local newscasts earlier in the year.
That includes a brother and sister pair featured on the program during the summer of 2020 and a teenage girl whose segment was re-aired and seen by a former teacher at her school.
"This community doesn't just gather around the table once a year; We stay there to make sure the children in our community have homes," Kaiser said.
"That's how we all have a happy Thanksgiving."
Forever Family segments air during the 5 p.m. newscast every Tuesday on News Channel 12, featuring Liz Quirantes. If you are interested in learning more about adoption, email tcadoptions@chsfl.org or click here.
The above pictures are scenes from Wednesday's adoption proceedings. Although given permission to use the pictures, CCKids has chosen not to identify the families by name for the sake of privacy.
Contact: Christina Kaiser
772.528.0362
