Celebrate Adoption

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

Maricopa County Juvenile Court has been promoting and celebrating adoption for over 15 years. Each year, there is one special day when adoptions are open to the public. For several years Maricopa County has held the largest annual adoption celebration event in the Country. National Adoption Day (NAD) in Maricopa County Juvenile Court is an event nationwide where communities, volunteers, and court personnel come together to raise awareness . This event is observed on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving every year. In 2016 the adoptions of 317 children were finalized. Over 3,300 people consisting of adoptive families and their guests came to the court house on a Saturday to make this all happen. Although this is an annual event held for over 15 years in Maricopa County, 2016 was the largest Maricopa County Adoption Day of record. National Adoption Day brings together Judges, attorney’s, adoption agencies, child advocates and others who are dedicated to creating forever families for children who do not have a permanent home. Along with the adoption hearings, there are activities for the children, food, entertainment, clowns, face painters, balloon animals, photographer, and the media in this day of celebration. The event is funded primarily through a 501 (c)(3) organization developed specifically for this purpose. National Adoption Day is a wonderful example of a public private partnership between the court and the community.