Every November, Tucson park becomes a makeshift adoption court
August 24, 2015
Every November, Udall Park in Tucson, Arizona, undergoes a transformation. Park ramadas are changed into make-shift courtrooms and the park grounds into a carnival of food, games and fun, all in preparation for “Adoptions Day in the Park,” where the adoptions of numerous children are finalized. St. Nicholas of Myra Adoption Center, a program of Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, is a sponsor of this annual event, and its staff are always there to witness and celebrate the adoptions of the children they have found homes for that year.
St. Nick’s works specifically to find homes for children whose parents have lost their parental rights due to abuse or neglect. While finding adoptive families for these children is challenging, the staff of St. Nick’s have seen families time and time again take the risks and make the sacrifices to adopt. They celebrate these families at “Adoptions Day in the Park.”
“It’s a happy, exciting day, and both children and families love to have their adoptions finalized on this day,” said Tricia Quiroz, an adoption specialist at St. Nick’s. “We do it in November, during National Adoption Month, to bring attention to this need and to celebrate people’s commitment to help kids.”
St. Nick’s hosts other events with community partners to recruit adoptive families, educating families about the process, joys, challenges and rewards of becoming an adoptive family. Prospective adoptive parents get to hear from an adoptive parent, and from a child, whose life has been tremendously blessed because of a forever family’s love.
“We’re always hoping to find more families for these children,” said Tricia. “These kids, who need forever families, lose hope.”
St. Nick’s works every day to prevent that loss of hope, reaching out to the community to inspire families to open their hearts and homes to the children who need them.
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