WILMINGTON – For the second year in a row, Delaware officials, families, friends and community partners joined together virtually on National Adoption Day to recognize the resilience of families who have embarked on the journey of adoption in the past year.

The National Adoption Day event on Saturday, November 20, hosted by the statewide Interagency Committee on Adoption, provided an opportunity to celebrate families and raise awareness of adoption and related supportive services.

“On National Adoption Day, we have the opportunity to bring awareness to adoption through foster care. Those adoption journeys inspire all of us doing this work, day in and day out, and today presents a chance to lift up those voices,” said Moira Dillon, Delaware Division of Family Services Adoption Program Manager and co-chair of the Interagency Committee on Adoption. “When a child has a family who unconditionally loves them and supports them, the healing begins. Every child deserves a family. Congratulations to all families who have adopted this year, and please know that the journey continues even after a traditional adoption ceremony. Post adoption support and services are available for every family who grew through adoption.”

During the celebration, Delaware Family Court Judge Mardi F. Pyott and Judge Joelle P. Hitch finalized adoptions for three families in front of loved ones, state officials, support networks and friends.

“Every child experiencing foster care has a different journey. Given the ups and downs along the way, we are grateful to have thoughtful, committed teams working with our kids. When a child cannot be reunified with their birth family, that work focuses on permanency,” said Meg Garey, Executive Director of A Better Chance for Our Children and co-chair of the Interagency Committee on Adoption. “We are thankful for the dedication of our Family Court judges and child welfare stakeholders who help children achieve that dream of permanency. Working together, we can make all the difference in a child’s life.”

Added Family Court Chief Judge Michael K. Newell, “Adoptions are celebratory proceedings that, at their core, provide children and families with stability. National Adoption Day is a significant way to celebrate those involved in the child welfare system. Congratulations to all that are taking part in this wonderful ceremony.”

Approximately 500 children either live away from their home or are experiencing foster care, and more than 60 children were adopted so far this year.

“Everything best in a child’s life, everything that elevates the promise of a child’s future, is rooted in trusted relationships. I can’t imagine a more powerful investment in a child’s trust, the foundation on which everything else depends, than the loving commitment of adoption,” said Delaware First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney.

During National Adoption Month this November and beyond, we are looking to encourage Delawareans to make a difference whether by supporting a youth in foster care, becoming a foster parent or looking into adoption. This year’s national theme is “Every Conversation Matters.”

“Every child deserves the love of a parent and a home to call their own,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “Adoptive parents have so much love in their hearts to give, it’s important to me, as a mom and a nurse, that we do all we can to help bring them together and create families. National Adoption Day helps raise awareness of adoption and foster care services here in Delaware. Please join me to support these families and help change a child’s world forever.”

To learn more about adoption in Delaware, please call 302-633-2658 or email adoption.dscyf@delaware.gov. You can go to this link on adoption to learn more. Delaware offers free post adoption services to any adoptive family living in the First State. Additionally, the supports are also available to parents who have been granted Permanent Guardianship of children who experienced foster care in Delaware. Services include support groups for parents and teens, parent coaching, respite care, services to support birth family connections and more. Visit our new post adoption services and support website here: de.gov/postadoption.

If you’d like to learn more about how to become a foster parent or how to give back to a foster child, please contact 302-633-2657, email DSCYF_FosterCare@delaware.gov or go to this link for more information. For additional resources on how to help a child experiencing foster care, please go to this link.

Watch Delaware’s National Adoption Day Celebration here.

The Delaware Children’s Department provides services for children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance use disorders, and/or have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. It has four divisions: Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services, Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services, Division of Family Services and Division of Management Support Services. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.

Media Contact: Jen Rini, jen.rini@delaware.gov

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