Santa Maria Times article: http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/santa-barbara-county-celebrates-national-adoption-day/article_736f4815-8541-5c8c-bced-ec184ae6e2fb.html
Santa Barbara News-Press article: http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=LOCAL&ID=567095366466535445
Entravision: Lupe Valdez was interviewed by Armando Torres-Garcia, but a link to the video is not currently available.
Note that the Santa Barbara News-Press hides articles behind a pay wall, and also archives articles after 7 days. Therefore, the text of the News-Press article is included here: to see it, click "Read More" below.
Adoption Day brings new families together
By SHELLY CONE
NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
November
20, 2014 6:03 AM
Ten
children walked into the Santa Barbara County Juvenile Court on Wednesday in
Santa Maria for a judge to legally grant their adoption.
But
for most of the people in court, a judge's order wasn't needed. They were
already family.
Inez
Cruz walked out of the court with Phillip, 3, in her arms, showering him with
kisses.
"I'm
so happy," she of the finalization of Phillip's adoption.
Her
husband, Wilfredo Guerra, spoke for himself and his wife.
"We
are so happy now. She wanted to help him," Mr. Guerra said of the baby,
who is also her grandson.
Mr.
Guerra said he hasn't formally adopted the boy but plans to.
"He's
my son. I didn't adopt him yet because it's a big long process but I will in
the future."
Amy
Krueger, operations manager for the Santa Barbara County Child Welfare
Services Department, said seven families adopted 10 children Wednesday as
part of the county's celebration of National Adoption Day.
Some
of those families adopted children that were relatives but some were foster
children, Ms. Krueger said.
Adoptions
take place throughout the year but National Adoption Day provides a more
festive occasion, allowing the families to celebrate with other families
across the country, she said.
It's
also a happy day for the department's staff.
"This
is one of the best days of the year, to be able to see families and children
who've made it to this point. All of our staff is very happy today to be able
to see that," Ms. Krueger said.
Crystal
Griffis, who was there with her mother and her son, Jamar'e, 5, adopted
Emily, 4.
Ms.
Griffis said the little girl was her brother's biological daughter. He asked
Ms. Griffis to take Emily after the girl was taken from her mother.
She
said she didn't have to think about her answer. It was instantly
"yes."
"When
it comes to family you step in and do what you have to do," Ms. Griffis
said.
It
took some time for her Jamar'e to get used to the idea, however.
"As
an only child he wasn't used to sharing but now he calls her sister and she
calls him brother," Ms. Griffis said.
Judge
Arthur Garcia addressed the families prior to their individual proceedings.
"Anybody
who adopts is special. And the children who get adopted, they probably don't
think about it but they're special too. Of all the children in the world who
could've been adopted they were chosen to be adopted. How special is
that?"
Ms.
Krueger said her agency facilitates about 100 adoptions a year.
email:
news@newspress.com
|
