In the United States, there are 129,000 children in foster care who need permanent, loving families, and many of these kids have been waiting years to be adopted. In Guam alone, 196 children are waiting to find families they can call their own.
But there is hope. On Saturday, Nov. 15, an unprecedented number of courts and community organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico opened their doors to finalize the adoptions of thousands of children from foster care and to celebrate all families that adopt.
To help raise awareness, Gov. Felix P. Camacho signed a proclamation of National Adoption Day on Friday in the large conference room at the governor’s complex in Adelup at 10 a.m. I Mina’ Bente Nuebi Na Liheslaturan Guåhan presented a legislative resolution at 1:30 p.m. in the Antonio R. Unpingco Session Hall at the Guam Legislature building.
Participants in the National Adoption Day are the Supreme Court of Guam, Superior Court of Guam, Department of Public Health and Social Services, Office of the Governor, and I Mina’ Bente Nuebi Na Liheslaturan Guåhan. The goal is to draw attention to the children on Guam who are eligible and waiting for adoption, as well as highlight local families that have chosen to expand their families in this special way.
National Adoption Day is sponsored by a coalition of national partners: The Alliance for Children’s Rights, Casey Family Services, Children’s Action Network, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and Freddie Mac Foundation.
Since its inception in 2000, more than 20,000 children were joined together with their forever families as part of National Adoption Day activities. In 2008, it is hoped that more than 3,300 adoptions from foster care will be finalized nationwide as a result of National Adoption Day.
For more information, please call my chambers at 671-475-3300. Thank you for helping us find permanent, loving families for these waiting children.
ROBERT J. TORRES
Chief Justice of Guam
