COMMUNITY (Cont.)
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Orange County Judge Unites 8 New Forever Families on National Adoption Day! National Adoption Day ceremonies may have looked different on Friday, Nov. 20, with limited face-to-face interactions and virtual hearings due to the coronavirus pandemic – but the tradition of uniting families across the country the week before Thanksgiving remained the same.
which began in 2000, raises awareness about the number of children in foster care who are in need of stable, loving homes.
“Our priority has always been to provide as much normalcy as possible for these children,” said Glen Casel, president and CEO of Embrace Families, the lead In Orange County, Judge Alicia L. Lati- nonprofit agency overseeing foster care, more met 8 families for virtual private adoption and child welfare services in adoption proceedings for 10 children Central Florida. “These are good kids and then conducted a virtual ceremowho have faced difficulties in life. Our ny and celebration for extended family mission is to find permanent solutions members, friends and the public to join. that allow them to thrive.” Similar proceedings were held in Osceola County. Since its inception in 2004, Embrace Families has helped nearly 2,300 chil“This is my favorite day of the year, be- dren find their forever families. To cause it’s proof of the power of love,” learn more about foster parenting or said Judge Latimore. “Although it looks adoption, prospective families can visit different in 2020, it doesn’t feel any www.EmbraceFamilies.org. smaller in my heart.” While adoptions take place throughout the year – even during the COVID-19 shut down – National Adoption Day,
Pictured Above: The Cullor family, Avalon Park residents, with their adopted son, Ezra, the little brother of their adopted daughter, Ella.
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