Local non-profits gear up for National Adoption Day
As brand new families get made in our area, the non-profits behind them prepare to celebrate the occasion - 13 On Your Side's Luis Lopez reports
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Saturday, November 20 will mark what some kids have been waiting years for, National Adoption Day.
The event will take place at the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center, where 17 families will be getting their adoptions finalized. For adoption resources in the area, Saturday will mark a celebration years in the making.
Adopting a child is never an easy process. In fact, as Kari Tatar of Arizona's Children Association says, some families will have to wait quite a while for things to be finalized.
“It can take three months, sometimes longer, sometimes six months, it just depends on the situation of the child,” Tatar said.
During the event, that process will be completed for several families. Locally, the National Adoption Day event will be held in Yuma for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joining the celebrations is the Arizona Children Association, which has become a local powerhouse for adoptions since they provide resources as new families become connected. When adoptions are finalized at the event, it will be something kids have been waiting a long time for.
“Saturday’s huge! It’s National Adoption Day; and that means that here in Yuma County, 20 kids get their forever home. Something that they’ve been waiting for for a very long time, and they get their forever rooms, and forever beds, and they get to be part of a family now that’s theirs.”
In addition to the event's local success, the Court Appointed Special Services of Yuma says that over 75,000 kids nationwide have been adopted on National Adoption Day.
