NCALP Celebrates Adoption Day

November 23, 2004

Across the nation, about 129,000 children in foster care await permanent, loving homes. National Adoption Day is a collective, national effort to publicize their situation and celebrate adoptions.

The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy (NCALP) at Capital University Law School joined the cause by helping in the success of local Adoption Day events, which occurred Nov. 17, 2004. NCALP recruited and coordinated training for several volunteer attorneys. The volunteer attorneys represented 11 families in the adoption proceedings for 19 children in Franklin County. Capital University Law School graduate Tom Taneff, L’87, provided training for the volunteer attorneys. The proceedings were conducted by Franklin County Probate Judge Lawrence Belskis and his staff of magistrates. Judge Belskis is also a graduate of Capital University Law School (L’75) as well as a trustee.

Following the adoption ceremonies, the new families celebrated at a reception sponsored by NCALP and its project partners, the Franklin County Probate Court and Franklin County Children’s Services.

NCALP seeks to improve the law, policies and practices associated with child protection and adoption systems.

“We work on projects all over the country aimed at making the system more efficient so that foster kids can have safe, permanent homes more quickly. National Adoption Day is one of the rare times we get to actually meet the kids we’re helping join with new families,” said Professor of Law Kent Markus, director of NCALP. “It’s a great reminder for all of us why it’s so important for the adoption system to work better than it does.”

Other National Adoption Day events across the country celebrated the hundreds of adoptive families who are making a lifetime commitment to kids in foster care.

National Adoption Day is sponsored by The Alliance for Children’s Rights along with Casey Family Services, The Children’s Action Network, The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, The Freddie Mac Foundation, and Target.

[ More about National Adoption Day ]