Why Not Me?
12 Children Finalize Adoptions in Mass Ceremony
May is National Foster Care Month and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is continuing to promote the adoption of foster children with a campaign called Why Not Me? After all, that’s the question hundreds of older foster children ask themselves. “Why not me? Why can’t I have a family?”
DFPS’ Child Protective Services (CPS) program in El Paso has 133 abused or neglected children who need loving adoptive families. About half of these children are 10 years of age or older.
On Friday, May 9, 2008, a dozen El Paso foster children will realize the dream of a permanent home. Five different families will have their adoptions finalized in 65th District Court by Judge Oscar Gabaldon.
The mass adoption ceremony will include several adoptions by relatives. 62-year old Socorro Moreno will adopt her 5 grandchildren: Paz (10), Nicole (7), Jasmine (5), Vida (2) and Adrianne (9 months). Their biological mom was recently diagnosed with uterine cancer.
Come celebrate their adoptions.
Friday, May 9 Mass Adoption Ceremony
1:30 p.m.
El Paso County Courthouse, 65th Judicial District Court, 11th floor
500 E. San Antonio
Contact: Lillian Garcia, 521-3961
Texas needs foster and adoptive parents for children of all ages. Some of these children have special medical, physical, or emotional needs. There is also a special need for foster and adoptive parents who know American Sign Language.
The Goal of the “Why Not Me?” campaign is to increase the number of families licensed to foster and adopt children and ultimately to increase the adoptions. What greater gift than the gift of family? In FY 2007, 81 foster children were adopted in the El Paso area.
Learn about becoming a licensed foster/adoptive parent at: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/services.asp. Then check out the foster children awaiting adoption on the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange Website at www.adoptchildren.org
No child awaiting adoption should have to ask the question, “Why Not Me?”
