Families throughout California welcome new members to their families.
"The need is extremely great. We have so many kids in the foster care system and all of our children need a significant adult to have that support there for them. Adoption is one way of providing that permanency for them so they always have a significant figure in their lives," said Marlene Hagen, San Bernardino County Children's Services.
Five San Bernardino County judges conducted the finalization in temporary court rooms in the Ontario Convention Center that was properly decorated for the event.
In most cases the new parents were foster parents. The bond with the children placed in their temporary care became strong.
"God is good. He brought her into our lives. We trusted him to do that. Folks here in the San Bernardino County courts worked a miracle for us," said parent Stephen Evans.
Children from 8 months to 17 years old were legally adopted Thursday. An average of 500 children are adopted in San Bernardino County every year.
"This is Casey-Marie and we got her from San Bernardino Adoption Services. We have been working with them for a couple of years now. They presented her to us when she was 10 months old. We have had her for the last six months and now she is officially ours," said parent Chad Millward.
There were a lot of happy families Thursday. There is a need for adoptive parents in Riverside and San Bernardino County.
For more information about adoption contact San Bernardino Children's Services at (800) 722-4477.
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