Nov. 15, 2024, DENVER—National Adoption Day is being celebrated in many of Colorado’s Judicial Districts in November, with judges and magistrates across Colorado finalizing the adoptions of dozens of foster children into permanent families. Colorado is currently home to more than 200 children waiting for permanent families. 

Adoption Day events in Colorado are being coordinated through the courts, state and local human services departments, as well as other local and state child services agencies and advocacy groups. 

National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the more than 100,000 children in foster care across the country waiting to find families. Since its inception, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true through the cooperative work of courts, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care.  

Colorado Judicial Districts hold Adoption Day events during October and November. Here are the upcoming events: 

1st Judicial District will celebrate Adoption Day on Nov. 23 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Jefferson County Combined Court, 1100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. District Court Judge Lindsey VanGilder will be presiding over seven adoptions. The presentation and activities are open to the public only. Media wanting to attend will be required to submit a request for expanded media coverage. For more information, contact Randa Richards, randa.richards@judicial.state.co.us, 720.772.2703. 

10th Judicial District will celebrate Adoption Day for the 16th year in a row on Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 401 of the Pueblo County Courthouse located at 501 N. Elizabeth Street in Pueblo. District Court Judge William Alexander will preside over the adoption of three children into three families. Following the adoptions, a celebration with cake and other refreshments will be held in the training room on the fifth floor of the courthouse. The adoptions will be open hearings and expanded media coverage has been granted. For more information, contact Sabrina Miller at 719.583.6865. 

11th Judicial District will hold an Adoption Day event on Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fremont County Combined Courts, 136 Justice Center Road in Cañon City. District Court Magistrate Lauren Swan will preside over the adoptions. Media wanting to attend are required to submit a request for expanded media coverage. For more information, contact Fremont County Court Clerk Cristy Christensen at cristy.christensen@judicial.state.co.us.

12th Judicial District will celebrate Adoption Day on Nov. 22 at 11 a.m. at the Alamosa Combined Courts, 8955 Independence Way in Alamosa. District Court Chief Judge Amanda Hopkins will preside over the event, recognizing 24 families who went through the adoption process this year from counties in the San Luis Valley. The public may only attend the celebration that will be held after the recognition ceremony. Media interested in attending should contact Kyle Gustafson at kyle.gustafson@judicial.state.co.us.

17th Judicial District will host an Adoption Day event on Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive in Brighton. The celebration begins at 9 a.m. in the Jury Assembly Room with a welcome by District Court Chief Judge Kyle Seedorf and Adams County Health Services Department leadership, and the reading of the National Adoption Day Proclamation by the Adams County Commissioners. Adoption finalization hearings will take place from 9:45 a.m. until noon in courtrooms 601, 602 and 604. Judge Caryn Datz, Judge Emily Lieberman and Magistrate Ashley Ratliff will preside over the adoption of 13 children into seven families. Hearings are open to the public and cameras will be allowed in the courtrooms with no formal motions to the court as long as the families consent to photography. For more information, contact Simone Jones, Deputy Court Executive, 303.654.3230. 

19th Judicial District will celebrate Adoption Day on Nov. 22 at 8 a.m. in Division B, Weld County Combined Courts, 915 10^th Street in Greeley. District Court Judge W. Troy Hause will preside over 15 to 20 adoption hearings, which are open to the public. The event will begin with a short ceremony followed by a celebration in the Court Information Center. Media wanting to attend are required to submit a request for expanded media coverage. For more information, contact Marla Bohling or Tiffany Perez Garcia in the Weld County Combined Court Clerk’s Office at 970.475.2400. 

20th Judicial District will hold Adoption Day on Nov. 22 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Boulder County Justice Center, Boulder Jury Assembly Room, 1777 6^th Street in Boulder. District Court Magistrate Carolyn McLean will preside over the adoption proceedings, and several families who have adopted children this year are planning to attend. The celebration will feature speakers, crafts and snacks. It is not open to the public. Media wanting to attend are required to submit a request for expanded media coverage, and, if approved, can participate in whatever capacity is authorized by the EMC.  For more information, contact Deborah Fox at 720.664.1613 or deborah.fox@judicial.state.co.us.

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