Nov 22, 2009 9:00 am US/Eastern
Maryland Families Celebrate Adoption Day
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Nationwide, thousands of children are awaiting new families through adoption. Saturday, the wait ended for dozens of Baltimore-area children. Gigi Barnett explains it's National Adoption Day.
From the first day Salome Burkett received her two youngest children through foster care, she knew adoption was in the future.
"When I saw her, I just knew she was it. She was going to be with me forever," she said.
Forever began on Saturday in the city's Mitchell Courthouse when a Baltimore City judge made the adoption official, and not just for the Burketts. Fifty-four other city children took on new names during National Adoption Day, the most ever adoptions in Baltimore at one time.
"We have seven sets of siblings being adopted today, which to me, for people opening their hearts for siblings to keep them together is very wonderful," said Erika Daneman Slater, Chair of National Adoption Day committee.
While strollers lined the courthouse hallway, at least two adults were adopted. It was a chance to take on a family name they had always wanted.
Some parents explained the lengthy legal process with ease.
"I said today, we're going to have our name changed and you're going to have Mommy's last name and we're going to be a family," Burkett said.
National Adoption Day is on or near the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Since it began, more than 25,000 children have been adopted through the program, just in time for the holidays.
"It's going to be beautiful, because I've been waiting for this day," Burkett said.
Nearly 130,000 children nationwide are in foster care awaiting adoption.
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