Several area children will find their way into permanent homes next week as part of the annual 10th Chancery Court District’s Mass Adoption Day.
This year, the Sebe Dale Jr. Chancery Building, located at 250 Broad St. in Columbia, will play host to the event, according to Court Administrator Lisa Stringer.
“November is actually National Adoption Month, but a number of children in Child Protective Services custody have recently become legally free, setting the way for adoptions,” she said. “We’ll have children here form Forrest, Marion and Pearl River counties. These children will be legally placed into new permanent homes and we’re looking to promote the need for loving homes for other children awaiting adoption.”
Chancellor Rhea Sheldon said the ceremony was a momentous occasion in the children’s lives.
“We have a number of kids that have been in (CPS) custody for years,” she said. “To be able to finalize these adoptions and give them a permanent home is wonderful. It is important to give them this finalization.”
The ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and Sheldon said more than a dozen children will be placed with their adoptive families.
“I think we’ll have 13 to 15 children at this point, the numbers are a little unsure,” Sheldon said Wednesday afternoon. “We have at least eight families that will be adopting children. For some, it may be the first children they have. When we’re able to provide a family for a child and the security that comes with it it is a great thing to see, it is just so important to these children.”
The events are not unique to the 10th Chancery District, according to Sheldon.
“We’ve held these before,” she said. “We’ve had them in Forrest and Lamar counties more recently. The last time we held one in Columbia was when Judge Sebe Dale Jr. was on the bench. These events in the other counties included people form Marion County.”
Holding the Mass Adoption Day in Marion County was important to Sheldon.
“Marion County has been so supportive providing care and items for children,” she said. “We felt it important to hold it in Marion County as a thank you.”
Sheldon invited members of the public to visit the Chancery Court for the event next week and hopes to host another such day in Marion County in November.
“Adoption is just as much a miracle as birth,” she concluded. “Everyone gets to see the creation of a family.”
