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There is nothing more beautiful than when a child is welcomed with open arms into a new family, and a ceremony held at Kissing Tree to establish permanent homes for 14 kids — three of which are from Hays County. Court Appointed Special Advocates of Central Texas along with the Department of Family and Protective Services Region 7 and SJRC Texas celebrated Central Texas Adoption Day by honoring the eight families that adopted local children.
According to information provided by SJRC first Central Texas Adoption Day in 2007, which has since grown and evolved into a multiagency effort.
Joyce Yannuzzi, district director for Texas State Senator Donna Campbell, spoke in Campbell’s stead.
“She sends her heartfelt Texas, President Bill Clinton proclaimed National Adoption Month in 1995 to commemorate the adoption of children into “loving, permanent homes where they can flourish and grow up to become happy, healthy, productive members of our national community.” CASA of Central Texas hosted the appreciation for all that CASA does for families here in the central Texas area,” Yannuzzi said. “She has adopted four daughters of her own, so she is now mother to these four girls. And it’s my pleasure to be here because I am also an adoptee.”
Yanuzzi read Texas Senate proclamation number 400, which recognized the many organizations involved in Central Texas Adoption Day. “Court Appointed Special Advocates, together with the courts of Hays, Caldwell, Comal and Guadalupe counties will be celebrating 2024 Adoption Day with their adoption day event, which will be held Nov. 25. … On this day, courts in each of these counties will open their doors to finalize the adoptions of local foster children who are in need of loving permanent homes, and CASA and area residents will join other organizations nationwide in celebrating all adoptions in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of foster care adoption,” she read. “There are more than 100,000 children in the United States foster care system and thousands of children in our state waiting to be adopted through the dedicated efforts of CASA. This Adoption Day event, along with similar celebrations in all 50 states, provides children in need of a chance to live in stable, loving homes, and encourages families and individuals to make a powerful difference in the lives of children through foster care adoptions.”
Comal County District Attorney Jennifer Tharp thanked the families that “stepped up” by adopting children that day and read a quote about adoption that she said “grabbed her attention.”
“It says, ‘God knew that it mattered little how your child got to your family today but instead matters much that they got there,’” Tharp said. “And I can’t think of a better or a more true statement than that. Today is just the beginning of a new journey. It’s the beginning of a family that’s not made from blood, but it’s made from love.”
CASA of Central Texas CEO Norma Castilla- Blackwell wanted to thank SJRC Texas and the Department of Government protected services for their contributions to this event.
“We work very closely with them and are blessed to work together. I know sometimes it’s not easy, but we’re always friends,” Castilla- Blackwell said. “We do it for the best interest of all the kids in our community.”
Mark Wilson, a representative of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, wanted to recognize the families in attendance and their strength.
“Today is about the choices that they made in a time of hardship and a time of uncertainty to be that one thing that a child needed to change their life forever,” Wilson said. “It means more than you can ever know, and [it’s important] to recognize today that family, whether blood or not, is about who shows up for you. It’s about who you show up for over and over again, even when it hurts, even when it’s scary, even though you didn’t have to, and everyone in this room has shown that they are those people for each other.”
SJRC Texas | Belong is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that has provided a safe and nurturing home for vulnerable youth. CASA provides high quality, best interest advocacy for children and youth in the child welfare system. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services works with communities to promote safe and healthy families and protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Phenix Reign was ecstatic about officially becoming a Wolfe Schacter. PHOTOS BY SHANNON WEST
Mr and Mrs. Klaus were in attendance.
Javier and Brielle were excited about becoming part of the Sigala family.
