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

Hosted by the Interagency Committee on Adoption, which is a coalition of adoption organizations and stakeholders from across the state, the annual National Adoption Day Celebration turned virtual this year. Saturday’s event still provided an opportunity to raise the profile of adoption in Delaware and celebrate families despite the challenges of COVID-19.

“National Adoption Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate adoption and bring awareness to adoption through foster care. Foster care and adoption are a long journey, and this year has been especially challenging,” said Moira Dillon, Delaware Division of Family Services Adoption Program Manager and co-chair of the Interagency Committee on Adoption. “Our children have already experienced so much loss in their young lives, but they are resilient. 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 in this very challenging year!”

During the celebration, Delaware Family Court judges finalized adoptions for three families in front of loved ones, state officials, support networks and friends. Finalization ceremonies were performed by Judge Michael Arrington, Judge Peter B. Jones and Judge Kenneth M. Millman.

“Every child experiencing foster care has a different journey. Those journeys often include a lot of ups and downs. Therefore, 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. “As we see with our National Adoption Day finalizations, the dedication of our Family Court judges to help our children achieve permanency is invaluable. Having judges who are truly invested in a child’s safety, wellbeing, and future can make all the difference.”

The National Adoption Day event follows the announcement of Delaware’s participation in the ALL-IN Foster Adoption Challenge, raising awareness of permanency efforts for children and youth in foster care. In Delaware, approximately 499 children either live away from their home or are experiencing foster care and there are about 143 youth in care who have the goal of adoption.

“I think it is the definition of being on the right side of history to brighten the promise of a child’s future. Nowhere is that investment deeper or more meaningful than through 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.

“There is nothing more important to me, as a mom and a nurse, than helping connect children and parents and creating families. I’m always thrilled to be part of National Adoption Day, and I look forward to this celebration each year. I congratulate our adoptive families and wish them all the best,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “Together, we can raise awareness of adoption and foster care services here in Delaware. This holiday season and beyond, let’s do our part to give back, learn and support our youth so they can thrive.”

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. 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 or email DSCYF_FosterCare@delaware.gov. To connect with private agencies on foster care, please 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 Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance use problems, and/or have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.

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

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