Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "adoption"

A JOURNEY OF HOPE - Part II

2012-01-27T20:54:32Z

Written in memory of our brave daughter, Katie Janae Cramer, who went to Heaven January 6, 2011.

TO THE HOUSE OF THE KING

Continued from A Journey of Hope- Part 1

It was January 2007, and our family would spend the next three years, three months climbing out of the valley of childhood cancer. We emerged - battle-fatigued and scarred - but we had emerged! And no one enjoyed being out of that valley more than our daughter.

Katie seemed to have a renewed vigor for life. The battle hadn’t dampened her spirit - it energized it! She was ready to put her ordeal behind her and get on with life. She enjoyed her friends, being involved at church, and continued to excel in school.

In February of 2011, our now 16-year old daughter decided to enter the first Miss Teen Asia Sacramento Pageant. It was a bit unusual for her to intentionally seek out this kind of attention; her unassuming and soft-spoken nature definitely did not fit the typical pageant mold.

Nevertheless, we were excited for her to step into the limelight, hoping it would increase her involvement with the Asian community and improve her leadership skills. Katie had a story of triumph to tell and was a natural beauty.

Katie won the title of Second Princess, as well as a special award for Academic Excellence. The beautiful butterfly we had foreseen fifteen years ago in the gray city of Liuzhou was now in her full glory! In a little over a week, our world will be turned upside-down once again.

Relapse. The most dreaded word in childhood cancer. Telling our daughter the cancer was back was more than painful. Katie had only been twelve years old when first diagnosed; she had little knowledge about the world of cancer. Now sixteen, she knew what to expect and understood the consequences were more dire.

Childhood cancer parent, Steve McNitt, Cameron Park, put it this way when he learned their son’s cancer had returned, “On June 1st, 2009, Caleb celebrated three years being CANCER FREE! We threw the biggest celebration we could imagine and afford. We thought we were finally done with cancer, and could be a "normal" family again. Our sails were full; our future was bright; our pain was behind us!”

He recalls the event with vivid details. “Twelve days after our big celebration - 9:30pm - Caleb was in already in bed. I was getting ready for bed when the phone rang. It was a pediatric oncologist from Kaiser telling me Caleb's leukemia had returned. I told her she was wrong and questioned her credentials... then it hit me. Caleb's cancer was back! I was shocked. I was scared. I was angry! “

Elaborating, McNitt put it this way, “Every molecule of excitement from his celebration was gone, replaced by three times the amount of horror, despair, hopelessness and heaviness – a heaviness that could crush a soul! I had no strength to fight it again. We had only tears... and prayers... and an overwhelmingly heavy depression.”

Like Caleb, Katie’s only hope of beating cancer this time would be a bone marrow transplant. She would be brought back into remission as the search began for a match for her. We had faith a perfect match would be found. It couldn’t be that difficult to find a match; she had a good number of potential matches, didn’t she?

The statistics were not in Katie’s favor. “The odds of siblings having identical tissue types are 1 in 4. The odds of matching an unrelated donor are between 1 in 100 and 1 in a million. Currently, only 25% of the National Registry represents racial minority communities; therefore, the current odds for a minority patient to find a matching unrelated donor may be closer to 1 in a million.” (1)

“Just be patient,” we told ourselves. But timing was crucial; the transplant would need to take place soon after Katie was back in remission. But patience was difficult to maintain as the clock kept ticking down, and each day passed with no positive news about a match.

Since Katie had been adopted from China, and racial heritage is an important factor in finding a match, we thought potential donors would more than likely come from her country of birth. Our intuitions were confirmed when the geneticist from the National Marrow Donor Program (“Be The Match”) compared Katie’s HLA typing with gene pools around the world. Not surprisingly, the greatest concentration of similar gene pools was found not just in China itself, but in Katie’s birth province of Guangxi and in neighboring provinces.

Prompted by our increasingly desperate search for a donor and the geneticist's findings, a decision was made that I head to China to see if I could increase Katie’s odds of survival. It was a leap of faith, but one we felt need to be taken.

News of our plea for donors and my trip to China was covered locally by Sacramento’s News 10; around the United States by various news sources, including MSNBC; and China’s largest national news service, Xinhua. I returned home to Sacramento hopeful that a match would soon surface. (2)

Sadly, no perfect marrow or peripheral blood stem cell matches were found. Our hopes were now pinned on an umbilical cord blood transplant, a viable alternative for patients if other options fail. We accepted this new reality, and proceeded to Stanford with our hopes changed, but still high.

Katie’s transplant day was October 22nd, 2010. Time passed slowly in the isolated transplant wing of the hospital as we waited for the stem cells to engraft. Day after day - nothing. Two more infusions of cord blood stem cells were given; still no engraftment. Complication after complication followed. Christmas came and went.

On December 30th a “family care meeting” was called. The scenario painted by the doctors was bleak and, in all probability, would only get bleaker. Arrangements were made for Katie to immediately return to Kaiser’s Roseville hospital. Hospice services were quickly set up in our home. Katie went peacefully and sweetly into the arms of Jesus on January 6, 2010.

Life has forever changed for our family. Our hope now is that others will never have to face what our family did. But there is still work to be done to fulfill that hope.

“There are currently three teenage girls at Kaiser Roseville who are in need of transplants,” Dr. Kent Jolly, pediatric oncologist at Kaiser Roseville, informed me. “Two of these patients are from minorities; one is Caucasian. All three are having problems finding suitable matches, and the families are now considering umbilical cord stem cells, or even incompletely-matched marrow transplants."

Thankfully, a perfect match was found for Caleb, and he is doing great today. His donor made the difference. Could you possibility be a life-saving donor? Absolutely!

Vicki Wolf, BloodSource Communications Manager says, “People in the Sacramento area between the ages of 18-60 years old who are generally healthy and committed to donating to anyone in need can join “Be The Match” marrow registry through BloodSource at no cost to the registrant at this time.”

“We believe that marrow transplants can offer a second chance at life. As long as patients like Katie are in need, we hope to help not only by providing blood products, but in educating and recruiting committed people to join the marrow registry, especially those of diverse heritage” Wolfe states.

If you would like to join the registry, or would like to hold a marrow registry drive through BloodSource, please call at 866.822.5663. You can also go online to “Be The Match” at http://marrow.org/Home.aspx

Butterflies are exquisite but short-lived creatures. They emerge from their cocoons, and flutter into our lives bringing us delight, then quickly fly away. Such was our dear daughter, Katie. We wish you could have stayed longer.

(1) http://www.aadp.org/learn/faqs/

(2) http://katiecramer.org/news-stories

A JOURNEY OF HOPE - Part I

2012-01-27T20:53:55Z

Written in memory of our brave daughter, Katie Janae Cramer, who went to Heaven January 6, 2011.

FROM THE DOORS OF AN ORPHANAGE:

As the butterfly alights on my arm in the dingy industrial city of Liuzhou, China, our hopes for our newly adopted daughter are high. Life in a Chinese orphanage has been perilous for her, her tiny body telling a story of deprivation through her bloated tummy, pale skin, weak muscle tone, and dry, sparse hair. But a butterfly will soon to emerge.

My husband and I return to Sacramento in May 1995, exhausted but elated at being home with our daughter. What was once only a tiny black-and-white picture is now an in-the-flesh baby dressed most often in pink. Already we see signs of her metamorphosis - she is smiling more, able to sit up on her own for short periods of time, and beginning to hold on to us.

Like most parents, we are enraptured with our new little one. Early concerns about her severe malnutrition quickly fade as she gains weight and strength. Thoughts of what she must have endured in the underfunded orphanage recede from our minds. We watch and are amazed as our daughter adjusts to her new surroundings. We wonder what the future holds for her.

Katie had the distinct role of being the first Chinese child in Sacramento adopted through Holt International Children’s Services and, from the beginning, served as a tangible promise for what many hopeful parents-in-waiting might expect. Referring to Katie’s status as Sacramento’s first Chinese adoptee, adoptive father Jeffrey Trapnell states, “Whether she knew it or not, she was a trailblazer for many more children to come, my daughter included.”

Life for our family settled into the normal joys and challenges of parenting and, eventually, we added two more wonderful children from China to our family: Anna, adopted from Hunan in 1999, and David, adopted from Jiangsu in 2002.

It was June 2006, and Katie was now a beautiful 12-year-old butterfly getting ready to stretch her wings and fly. The only problem was this delicate butterfly had a large, dark, unexplained bruise on the back of her leg, and was tired much of the time. A life-and-death battle would soon be underway as our family entered the terrifying world of childhood cancer.

One week after finishing elementary school, Katie was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia called acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We were devastated and in shock. We learned the standard protocol for treatment of AML would require her to be inpatient for most of the next six months. Katie bravely put away the things of childhood and, without tears, stoically entered into her second battle for survival - this time with cancer.

At Kaiser’s Morse Avenue hospital, Katie endured four rounds of intense chemotherapy. The chemotherapy robbed her not only of her shiny, black hair, but her entire immune system. In addition to nausea, lack of appetite, and isolation, there were trips to the ICU, numerous bone marrow biopsies, fungal infections, heart complications, and our constant underlying fear of relapse.

Isolated in the aging children’s wing of the Morse Avenue facility, we discovered we were not the only family on this terrifying journey - there were other families facing similar battles with their children.

“Our pediatric team sees approximately 35 new patients each year at Kaiser’s new Roseville facility,” states Dr. Kent Jolly, one of Katie’s pediatric oncologists. “Many of these patients are in treatment (needing chemotherapy) for two to three years, resulting in a caseload of approximately 70 patients per year.” Dr. Jolly adds that Sutter Children’s Center and UC Davis Children's Hospital treat approximately the same number of children at their facilities each year.

Our daughter was one of these “statistics”. We know other families who have children who were one of the numbers below. Even so, I was shocked to hear and see these figures. According to the National Cancer Institute’s State Cancer Profiles, for the years 2004 - 2008, the annual incidence rate (per 100,000) and annual average counts for Childhood Cancers for Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo Counties are as follows:

County Annual     Incidence Rate*    Average Annual Count
Sacramento            16.4                       50
Placer                     16.6                       11
Yolo                         15.7                       6
El Dorado                18.1                       6

* per 100,000

(all races, including Hispanic/both sexes/ages <15)

We decided not to focus on “survival rate statistics”, and to make the best of our difficult situation. Summer passed, as did the start of school, and then each of the winter holidays. We lived as a family divided, riding a roller coaster of emotions as the inevitable setbacks and crises came our way.

Throughout, we marveled at Katie’s ability to nonchalantly endure each challenge presented to her; deep inside, she seemed to possess a core of steel in her petite 80 pound frame. Had her first year in an overcrowded and understaffed orphanage toughened her, giving her the ability to courageously face such an ordeal?

January 2, 2007, we received the news we had hoped and prayed for. Katie was in complete remission and could go home! It was the best news we could have heard the beginning of that new year. Our first night home brought tears of indescribable relief and joy.

Though our innocence had been shattered, we continued to believe our daughter would be in the 50% category that would beat this disease. We would cling to the hope that this vicious monster had been defeated - once and for all! Nevertheless, we would hold our breath for the next three and a half years…

http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/incidencerates/index.php

Continue to A Journey of Hope- Part 2

The SPCA & kennels of camp kindness

2012-01-05T23:46:03Z

My long lived neighbor and companion, Timothy Murray, adopted his first dog "Maxwell Smart" from a shelter none other than God's SPCA, Church of Christ. Un doubly he has never needed him more each day. After two years with this special companion; the wired haired terrier and him has never felt more an item.

It was no non-sense considering an adoptive pet request program offered by the little church of Rio Linda. Evidentiary, the Pet Programs were suitable for SPCA torts reform and due process; because it was easy to cleave to dog repair and salvation. I welcome those opinions of who maintain advertising still is needed in this system to keep a steady and consistent draconian function.

At camp kindness adults, seniors, and the disabled have opportunities to enrich their experiences through Hodge podgy with animals so they can draw on the natural qualities of interbreeds.. Yes, open door shelters are continually seeking animals in need. Liberally avoiding euthanasia they are more than a kennel; they’re a home.

The society for the prevention of cruelty to animals surely made me thoughtful. At last there were animals that found placement in counties of Sacramento; including Placer, Yolo, & El Dorado and even stories of success of its adopter’s over our charitable networks.

My Deacon has auspiciously prepared me to choose from an established variety of Pets required by the SPCA to offer more hope for the way of the world and the perfunctory of evidence of co-commitments during dog redemption. But, success of matching recipients to adoption pet programs is the best way to foster and alert children to the benefits of learning with animals.

The Business of Animals
Animals out in Flock
Seek out only stares from dark
Hoping for a Knowles too fake
There Business is keeping their Tone.

Many people today, have trouble communicating without the help of “salt”, implicitly meant to add seasoning to our filtered lenses. My Medical Doctor, Bill Eng M.D., states though rather subjectively, “all pets enhance the sense of well-being and in many people with health related issues.”

Truth of the matter, Life is always fair and it always matters. That’s why we should fix to stay in important company. I do notice the change in wealth associated in a Pet Companion! For practical purposes, the dog is a good listener.

In only 2012, we will have more access to Estate Planning, Micro chipping, Licensing, Spaying, Neutering, & even Vaccinations; a quandary begins in estate planning. Aggressive animals can’t be micro chipped, licensed, or vaccinated. But animals which are altered as though spayed or neutered are to be tagged for census practical purposes. A Cornell University Lab suggests that some vaccinations help protect dogs from kennel cough.

Love is defined as in wikipedia as a emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. Love is also a virtue representing all of human, kindness, compassion, and affection; and "the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another." Animal nabbing is safe, innocuous, and like the kennel cough; it’s a notice to revelation in a troubled mind.

With the abridging of the gap between virtue and kindness; my perspective is maintained through the objectivity of my lens often placed in authority by an Administrative Law Judge, henceforth Joseph L. Russell, Sr. I can willingly give value when I say “He as a church Deacon provides services for our social climate and engineers miracles pursued by the pet return, pet kindness, and pet repair fortunes.”

Disclosure: I have several friends with adoptive pets and take value of the reward they receive from the fellowship of great companion love fettered by the mate of a phyla breaded.species.

Pet of the Week- Mr. Smokey (Adopted)

2011-11-22T21:03:36Z

This eight-year-old Jack Russell Terrier mix is both sweet and friendly. He is fairly typical of his breed in that he is very smart, confident and independent, but he’s also a big lover! Positive reinforcement training would help him focus his energy and learn even more commands than he already knows. Mr. Smokey would do best in a somewhat active home with experienced adult owners (older kids and other dogs ok). He is eligible for our Senior for Senior Program in which adoption fees are waived for adopters who are at least sixty-years-old and adopting animals over the age of five.

*Join us on Black Friday and during the weekend for some very special adoption deals! All black (and mostly black) animals are 50% off through the weekend at the Sacramento SPCA!

** Please note we will be closed on Thursday, November 24th for Thanksgiving.

It's a hard knock life

2011-11-06T16:47:52Z

Raymond and Sylvia Munoz did not know what they were getting into when they first signed up to be foster parents. They nearly called it quits after helping 30 foster kids then the arrival of Sean opened their hearts to the possibility of adoption.

"It's been 13 years of bliss," said Sylvia recalling the day.

When Sean's adoptive father, a military veteran and Americorp volunteer passed away in 2010, Sylvia was left on her own to raise a teen.

She was at the adoption orientation for National Adoption Awareness Day at the State Capitol on Nov 3 to find out how to adopt two older foster siblings.

It's a hard knock life for 60,000 foster kids living in California. Though, 25,000 of these children are eligible for adoption. The thought of a caring role model and a permanent place to call home is really all they need.

In the greater Sacramento region alone, there are over 3,400 foster kids in the system. 1,000 of these children need a permanent family. Many are teens who will otherwise age out of the system with daunting odds.

Studies conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services from 2009, show that within 2-4 years over 50% of these young adults will struggle with outcomes as homelessness, drug addiction, or imprisonment.

Given the trauma they experience when the kids are separated from their families and removed from their home for their own protection. Too many live in uncertainty, unsure of what is happening and who is committed to them for a lifetime.

An intimate panel with EMQ Families First, Lilliput Children’s Services, and Sierra Forever Families, as well as Sacramento County Child Protective Services addressed The Need, Myths, and Reality about adoption.

Here are some common fears and realities that they shared:

It’s not too expensive to adopt from foster care. While domestic infant adoption and international adoption vary in cost from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, there is little or no cost to adopt from foster care.

The parents of the children will come back to reclaim them. Once parental rights have been terminated by the court, the parents have no further recourse for gaining custody of the children. The adoption is final.

Children in foster care are not all juvenile delinquents. Children enter the foster care system through no fault of their own, they may have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, and deserve every effort to help them find a permanent loving home.

Single parents cannot adopt. Single parents can and do, adopt. Last year, from the children adopted from foster care, 31% were adopted by single parents.

“The first thing to do is to find a foster care parent support group and talk to those who have adopted. They can share with you their experience, hope, and candid advice on adoption and parenting a child who is a survivor of foster care,” said Bob Herne from Sierra Families.

If interested in adopting, please begin with organizations listed in this Sac Press article.

Disclosure: Author is an ex foster kid.

3,400 local children and youth are growing up in foster care. Over 1,000 need a permanent home today.

2011-11-01T22:00:14Z

November is National Adoption Month. As the nation recognizes this important social issue, counties and communities across California will promote adoption and permanency awareness through activities and events that bring attention to the needs of the over 25,000 children and youth living in foster care throughout the state waiting for families to love and adopt them.

November 3, 2011 is National Adoption Awareness Day. On November 3, 2011, the month-long effort will kick off, raising awareness about the thousands of children in California waiting for families, celebrating those special people who have provided a loving home to children in foster care, and inspiring others to come forward and be a forever family to children and youth.

Special Event
National Adoption Awareness Day - California State Capitol - “Calling Out of Names” - 11 am to 6 pm
On the North steps of the California State Capitol, state and community leaders, adoptive parents, former foster children and child advocates will “call out” the names of children and youth who continue to wait for family love and belonging. This meaningful event will recognize the thousands of children in California waiting for forever families as well as those who have come forward to provide permanency to children through adoption. Three local families will be recognized with 2011 Adoptive Family of the Year awards.

Adoption Orientation inside the State Capitol: 4:45pm – 5:45pm:
A unique and intimate orientation will be co-hosted by three local agencies specializing in finding permanent families for children and youth living in foster care. The orientation will be held inside the State Capitol in room 113 . This orientation is open to the general public.

A candlelight vigil concludes the event at 6pm.

Get Involved. Become A Parent.
To learn more about how you can help strengthen our community by becoming a permanent family to a child or children in foster care in the greater Sacramento area.
Please visit the websites of one of these sponsoring agencies:
          EMQ FamiliesFirst: www.emqff.org
          Lilliput Children's Services: www.lilliput.org
          Sierra Forever Families: www.sierraff.org

November 1-14:
The Capitol Heart Gallery – a display of beautifully taken photographs of children and youth living in foster care in California and continue to wait for a family – is featured at the State Capitol.

Disclosure: Written by: Sara Hanson, Public Relations Specialist, Sierra Forever Families and the National Adoption Month Coalition

Real Relationships: Preggo and not ready

2011-10-31T15:36:01Z

Q: I just found out I am pregnant. I told my boyfriend and we both agreed that we are not ready to be parents, but there is no way I would consider getting an abortion.

I know that I could put the child up for adoption, but I feel like that is going to be really hard after carrying to term. However, I know I am not ready to be a mother, and I don't want to lose my boyfriend over this. I don't really know what to do.

A: Wow. You have many hard decisions and a long road ahead of you.

First of all, I applaud your stand on keeping the baby to term even though you are not sure about what will happen after that.

Secondly, I would suggest that you do not make a rash and uneducated decision about raising this child or putting it up for adoption. Either decision will have a lifelong impact on you, and you need to be sure that you are making the right decision.

Raising a child is not a joke or a game or something you can play at. It is a incredibly hard and time-consuming responsibility that you either commit to wholeheartedly or life will be miserable for both you and your child.

Adoption is also a very difficult choice. You are about to spend nine months with this child, and, by the time it is born, you will likely be very attached. However, keeping the child may not be the right decision for you. There are many adoption agencies in the Sacramento area that would be happy to work with you through your pregnancy, find you the right family to adopt your baby and answer any difficult questions you might have.

Providing a childless, loving home with the gift of a baby is a terrific thing. Knowing that your baby will be loved, provided for and raised by people who have been looking to pour their love and resourses into a child is comforting.

You need to explore your options, talk it over with your boyfriend and other trusted loved ones in your life and determine what the right option for you and your baby is.

Here are a few local resources you can use to educate yourself. It wouldn't hurt to set up a meeting with an adoption agency to learn about the process. They will not try to cajole or force you into a decision, so don't worry about that. Good luck. I hope you come to a decision you have peace with.

Sacramento Adoption Center

Sierra Forever Families

Family Connections Christian Adoptions

Lilliput Children's Services

Have a relationship question? Email sacpress@live.com. Questions will be featured every Monday in "Real Relationships."

Waste Connections, Inc. supports charitable golf tournament with proceeds to help children in foster care.

2011-10-04T22:10:36Z

Waste Connections, Inc. sponsored and helped fundraise $145,000 during Sierra Forever Families’ seventh annual Golf Classic for Kids tournament at Serrano Country Club on Sept. 12.

The funds raised during this year’s tournament will help more than 20 children living in foster care find permanent placements with loving families. This tremendous success of the 2011 tournament would not be as significant without the gracious support of Ron Mittelstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, along with Jerri Hunt, Vice President of Employee Relations, of Waste Connection, Inc.

Hunt, who retired from the Board of Directors of Sierra Forever Families in July, served as the four-time Chair of the Golf Classic Committee. Hunt’s passion for the cause and her enthusiastic leadership of the committee proved to be an integral part to the success and continuation of the tournament. For the past four years, Mittelstaedt and Hunt have donated their time and have worked with national vendors and global business associates to help prepare and sponsor the agency’s signature fundraising event. Some of these sponsors include but are not limited to the following: Evergreen Flexible Bonding Solution, Littler Mendelson, Blue Shield of California, Pacific Coast Companies, Inc., RecycleBank, the SureWest Foundation, and Vision Service Plan.

During their four-year involvement with the tournament and enduring support of the agency’s mission, Waste Connections, Inc. helped Sierra Forever Families raise more than $550,000, transforming the lives of more than 110 children living in local foster care.

At this year’s tournament closing ceremony, hosted by local personality Kelly Brothers, Hunt was recognized for her leadership with an excellence in service award and stated in her acceptance speech that helping children through this tournament has been, “the most important project of my life.”

One of the most touching recognition pieces Hunt received during the closing ceremonies were two homemade thank you cards from two sisters who directly benefitted from the efforts and commitment of Waste Connections, Inc.

Bob Herne, Executive Director of Sierra Forever Families, acknowledges Waste Connections, Inc. for their four-year commitment. In four years, Hunt, with the support her company and affiliates, has transformed a tournament that was heavily impacted by an ailing economy. “Her tireless efforts and passion to help children find the loving homes they deserve has successfully positioned Sierra’s Golf Classic as a tournament that is now regionally-known as one of Sacramento’s best,” said Herne.

Bob Herne continues, “Waste Connections, Inc. has generously benefitted local Sacramento charities for many years. With the support from Waste Connections, Inc., Sierra Forever Families has been able to transform the lives of hundreds of children living in foster care, which has not only impacted their lives, but the lives of their forever families, leading to increased opportunities of hope and positive outcomes for our children.”

Sierra Forever Families is committed to hosting the eighth annual Golf Classic for Kids tournament tentatively set for September 2012. For more information, or if you would like to be a sponsor for the tournament, contact Bobby Cobbs, Development and Public Relations Officer at 916.368.5114.

About Waste Connections, Inc.:
Waste Connections, Inc. is an integrated solid waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in mostly exclusive and secondary markets.The Company serves more than two million residential, commercial and industrial customers from a network of operations in 31 states. The Company also provides intermodal services for the movement of containers in the Pacific Northwest. Waste Connections, Inc. was founded in September 1997 and is headquartered in Folsom, California.

About Sierra Forever Families:
Founded in 1983, Sierra Forever Families mission is to transform the lives of children in foster care by building and nurturing permanent families. Traditionally focused on finding families for harder-to-place children living in foster care, Sierra has successfully placed more than 2,700 children with permanent, loving families in their 28 years of service. Since 2009, Sierra has also provided positive mentors to children who currently in foster care.

Disclosure: Written by: Sara Hanson, Public Relations Specialist, Sierra Forever Families

Ask the County Law Librarian – Adult Adoption

2011-07-14T22:11:11Z

Q. My stepdaughter just turned 18. We wanted to do a stepparent adoption, but her father wouldn’t permit it. She doesn’t get along with her father (it’s a long story) and now that she’s 18, we heard that we can do an “adult adoption” without his permission. Can we do this? How would we do it?

Fred

A. Adult adoption is possible. In fact, it’s a pretty common question here at the law library—so much so that we created a step-by-step guide called “Adult Adoption in California” with instructions and sample forms.

An adult adoption is when someone adopts a person who is 18 or over and not related to them. It changes the legal rights of both of you, and severs the existing relationship with her biological father. A new birth certificate will be issued showing you as her father. Despite this, you’re right: you are not required to get permission or even notify her biological father once she is over 18.

Many people in California do adult adoptions for the same reason you want to do one – to make an existing parent-child relationship “legal” and cut ties with an absent or abusive parent. Other reasons are to ensure a loved one is included in inheritance or to include a disabled person in family benefits.

Same-sex couples sometimes use adult adoption to achieve legal family status. This is less common now that domestic partnerships are available. Occasionally people inquire whether they can adopt a non-citizen to help them come to (or stay in) the US, but adopting a person over 16 provides no immigration benefit.

The process involves filing a set of papers in court (adoption agreement, petition and order, and consent from your spouses), then appearing at a hearing for the judge to approve the adoption order. You can find more information in our step-by-step guide, and if you need more detail than that, you are welcome to visit the law library and do some research on your case.

Do you have a question for the County Law Librarian? Just email sacpress@saclaw.org. If your question is selected your answer will appear in next Thursday's column. Even if your question isn't selected, though, I will still respond within two weeks.

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian
www.saclaw.org

Pet-a-Palooza rocks

2011-06-19T01:17:31Z

Pet-a-Palooza, a pet lovers dream, was held today at Rusch Park in Citrus Heights. The event, which started at 10 a.m. and lasted until 4 p.m., featured live music, animal obstacle courses, water jumping dogs, police dogs, food vendors, pet adoptions and much more.

The event seemed to be a smashing success with many fans staying around to hear the musical acts. ‘He is We’ started the afternoon off with a nice set and was quickly followed by ‘Andy Grammar’ and then ‘Whiskey Dawn”. Finally, to finish of the bands and the event itself, ‘Michelle Branch’ came on stage and performed an amazing set.

For an event that is touted as a fun day in the park and a way to educate people on the needs of animals, it really does a wonderful job of creating a fun and inviting atmosphere. Thanks to CBS Radio and their affiliate stations for some fantastic performances.

Marc McLaughlin is a contributing writer and photographer with the Sacramento Press.

Capitol Events this week

2010-11-19T23:37:59Z

Saturday, Nov. 20
6 a.m. - 6 p.m. A coalition of local and statewide organizations will celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month on the West Steps of the Capitol with a rally and reading of names of children awaiting adoption. About 200 people are expected.

County Animal Shelter Raises Pit Bull Awareness through Educational Workshops and Trainings

2010-10-19T21:16:07Z

In recognition of national “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month”, all October the Animal Shelter is holding several informational and training sessions to raise awareness of the often misunderstood group of dogs known as pit bulls and related breeds, which make up a large percentage of adoptable dogs in almost every shelter. The shelter has already offered several sessions throughout the month and on October 30 will celebrate the positive aspects of the breed with a showcase of several pit bulls that are Certified Assisted Therapy dogs.

“We are pleased to be holding this first time event to attempt to provide factual information and dispel stereotypes and myths about pit bulls, and to highlight what great pets they can be for the right family,” said Carl Simpson, Interim Shelter Director. “These upcoming educational opportunities provide an excellent opportunity for current and potential pit bull owners, as well as for anyone simply wanting to gain a better understanding of the pit bull dog.”

Remaining activities include:

October 23 - Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification Testing
Canine Good Citizen test administered by a certified CGC Evaluator. Free for Pit Bulls, $15 other breeds. Presented by Chako Pit Bull Rescue.

October 24 - Educational Seminar: “Pit Bulls: Now & Then”
The workshop covers information and the misinformation that abounds with this breed of dog. Learn the physical and behavioral aspects of the American Pit Bull Terrier, as well as their history, where they came from and where they may be going. Reserve your seat by emailing ingridc@sacCounty.net. Presented by Matt Green of the Placer SPCA.

October 24 – Hands-on Dog-Reactivity Workshop
The workshop is designed for dogs that are reactive toward other dogs, whether they are reactive due to excitability, aggression, or fear. Instructions will include a discussion about equipment, etc., and there will be time at the beginning of class to go over equipment safety. $45 for Pit Bull/Pit Bull Mixes Owners, $75 other breeds. Presented by Chako Pit Bull Rescue

October 30 – Pit Bull Appreciation & Celebration Day
Pit Bull adopters will enjoy gifts and visitors will meet Pit Bull Certified Assisted Therapy dogs, as we close out a month of community awareness, positive attention and promotion of responsible pit bull guardianship!

Sacramento Community Dreams Big with Lilliput Children's Services

2010-09-29T19:21:56Z

As Harriet Tubman once said, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

On September 11th, as over 200 Sacramento community members gathered at the California Museum to celebrate the 30 years that Lilliput Children's Services has been serving the state's most vulnerable children and their families, Lilliput was humbled to remember exactly who they are helping and why. Founded in 1980, Lilliput is committed to building families and making dreams come true, and has completed over 4,500 adoptions for California foster children.

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed food, wine and beer tastings that were donated by local restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed as they perused the beautiful artwork that was gifted by local artists for display and auction. The program was the highlight of the evening as Lilliput honored two special families, as well as a local business and nonprofit agency, for the difference they have made to our community.

The adoptive family that was honored has four children, all under the age of six, in their home. Their oldest three, now six, four and two, were all adopted from foster care with Lilliput's help. Their youngest, in their home for only 3 weeks now, is their middle child's sibling and is only 3 months old. Lilliput presented them with an "Adoptive Family Champions" recognition.

The kinship family that was honored is a family of six with five children in the home. The children were adopted by their great-aunt in 2006 and ranged in age from one year old twins to six when they first came into her home in 2002. Lilliput presented them with a "Kinship Family Champions" recognition.

The Metro Chamber's Leadership Sacramento Program was founded in 1985 and develops community-minded business and civic leaders. Lilliput makes it a priority for their executive leadership team to participate in the class and is sending their third through the program now. Lilliput was selected as the class project by the Class of 2008 and is ever so grateful for all that was done on the agency's behalf. Lilliput presented Leadership Sacramento with a "Local Business Hero" recognition, which was accepted by Shirley Smith, the Metro Chamber's Community Development Director.

KVIE Public Television continues to serve their mission of educating ,enriching, enlightening and inspiring diverse audiences and individuals with high quality television programming and related services that enhance the qualify of life for people throughout Northern California. KVIE and Lilliput began collaborating in 2008 thanks to the Leadership Sacramento Class Project. KVIE has been instrumental in helping to increase awareness about Lilliput's foster, adoption and kinship services by creating public service announcement and videos. KVIE in partnership with the Documentary Foundation facilitated the creation of the Dream Big video that was shown throughout the evening. Lilliput presented KVIE with a "Local Nonprofit Hero" recognition, which was accepted by Mike Sanford, KVIE's Vice President for Content Creation.

Dream Big was led by an event committee, Lilliput staff and the board of directors. Thanks to the time that these individuals volunteered as well as the numerous food, beverage, artwork and other in-kind donations, Lilliput was able to net over $22,000. All ticket sales, silent auction proceeds and the majority of event sponsorship dollars will go directly to Lilliput's services and did not host the event.

The support that was offered by the following, as well as those who attended, helps Lilliput to fulfill their mission - that every child deserves the opportunity for permanence in a safe and nurturing family - and to sustain services during these challenging economic times. By working together with those in the community, Lilliput can give children the chance to reach for the stars and make their own dreams come true. For more information about Lilliput, please visit www.Lilliput.org.

Dream Big Event Donors

SPONSORS - Visionary: Wells Fargo Bank Hero: Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Union Bank Friend: Teichert / Stonebridge Properties, Kaiser Permanente, SMUD, Bank of the West, Laurellen Mattos of Vitek Mortgage

Food - California Pizza Kitchen, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Crawdad’s River Cantina, Giovanni’s Old World New York Pizzeria, Hoppy Brewing Company, Jack’s Urban Eats, Paesano’s Pronto, Raley’s Bel-Air—AFC Sushi, River City Cake Company, Sugar & Spice Specialty Desserts, Taylor’s Kitchen

Wine - Bogle Winery, Crew Wines, Middleton Family Wines, Scribner Bend Vineyards, Sean Minor Winery

Beer - Hoppy Brewing Company, Sudwerk Restaurant & Brewery

Beverage - La Bou, Norcal Beverages

Monetary ($500 & up) - C.C. Myers, Kasey & Sean Cotulla, Greg & Erin Levi, Muller & Associates

In-Kind Services - Crisp Catering (Joe Thompson), Documentary Foundation (Mimi Wilcox & Oscar Boido), DS Pictures (Diego Salazar), Jack Nadel International (Bruce Pettinari), Kathryn Scott, Leslie Colby, Linda Johnson, KVIE Public Television (Mike Sanford), Tom’s Printing (Robert Tom)

Artists - Leslie Colby, Linda Johnson, Marla Kolb, Gregory Kondos, Alan Post, Mary Sorrels

Auction Items - Bidwell Street Bistro, A Dash of Panache Tea Parlor, Discovery Museum, Esquire IMAX, Fairytale Town, Freshberry Frozen Yogurt Café, Granite Arch Climbing Center, Maloof Sports & Entertainment, Middleton Family Wines, The Moak Family, Perry Creek Winery, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Piatti Ristorante & Bar, Relish Burger, Roller King, The Sacramento Zoo, Sienna, Solomon Dubnick Gallery, Standing Room Only, Vintner’s Cellar Custom Winery

Join “Zachary’s Story” Author and Sierra Forever Families for Book Signing and Charity Benefit July 29

2010-07-22T16:41:08Z

Who: Author Marci Bridgeford and Sierra Forever Families
What: Launch Party and opportunity to meet Sierra Forever Families
Where: Antiquite Maison Privee located at 2114 P Street, Sacramento, California
When: July 29, 2010 from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m.
Why: Celebrate “Zachary’s Story” to show new ways of looking at old stereotypes that can accompany adoption and blended families and replace them with feelings of self worth, power, love of self and family. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Sierra Forever Families.

Background
“Zachary’s Story” is a conversation between a mother and child that celebrates the joy of being an adoptive family. The book was released by AuthorHouse publishing and is available through www.ZacharysAdoption.com. The book is also available online at Target, Walmart, Borders, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

“Children arrive in families in different ways,” said Marci Bridgeford, author. “It’s important for adopted children and their extended families to understand that they are born of both a birth mother’s love and the love of the mother who so gratefully welcomes the child into her world. In this book, I wanted to explain that there are many different ways to become a family whether it is through adoption, marriage, crisis or love – all are chosen and should be celebrated.”

Statistics on Youth in Foster Care
In the Greater Sacramento Region, there are nearly 4,000 children and youth living in the foster care system. Nearly half of these children will not return to their birth family and are in need of a permanent family or lifetime connection today. There is virtually no cost to adopt a child from the foster care system. If a child does not find a permanence before the age of 18, they have a greater chance to become a part of the dire statistics: youth who age out of the foster care system at age 18 and do not have a permanent family or life-time connection, within 2-4 years, over 50 percent will be homeless addicted to drugs, in prison or dead. Of this group, over 60 percent of the females will have a child within 2-4 years. These statistics highlight the importance in remembering the message of “Zachary’s Story” – that loving families are created in many ways.

For more information about “Zachary’s Story,” or Marci Bridgeford, please visit http://www.zacharysadoption.com. For additional information on Sierra Forever Families, please visit http://www.sierraff.org.

About Author
Marci Bridgeford lives in California and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is currently working on a series of spiritual children’s books.

About Sierra Forever Families
Sierra Forever Families (Sierra) is a 501(c), non-profit organization whose mission is to transform the lives of children in foster care by building and nurturing permanent families. Founded in 1983, Sierra has helped over 2,300 children and youth find permanence through adoption, kinship, guardianship and reunification. Sierra strives to find families for children who are harder to place: siblings, older youth, children with emotional and physical challenges, and multi-ethnic with diverse backgrounds. With the addition of its mentoring program, Wonder, Sierra has increased its opportunities to aid youth in care by providing a caring consistent adult to guide them through fun experiences in nature, art, music, sports, and dining out.

Contact Information:
Lori Bertelli
Bertelli Group Public Relations
916.216.2968
lbertelli@bertelligroup.com

Interested in Adopting?

2010-06-29T18:36:03Z

If you are interested in adopting a child, the first step is to educate yourself about adoption and become familiar with the various types of adoption available to you. The most common types of adoptions are:

Foster adoptions – The children were placed into child protective custody for their safety and cannot be returned to their birth parents or cared for by extended family.

Domestic private adoptions – The children are not in foster care and the adoption is typically handled by a lawyer and the two parties; birth parents and adoptive family.

International adoptions – The children are from a foreign country and, again, the adoption is typically handled by a lawyer or international adoption agency. Travel to the foreign county will most likely be required.

Lilliput Children’s Services is a local, Sacramento-based agency that specializes in foster adoptions. While we are headquartered in Sacramento, we have 10 other offices throughout Northern California, including Granite Bay and El Dorado Hills allowing us to effectively serve all of Northern California.

Lilliput has completed over 4,500 adoptions for California foster children; over 2,000 in the past two years alone! Lilliput has a 30 year history of serving children and families. In the private sector, we lead the state in numbers of children placed and adopted each year through foster/adoption. As foster/adoption specialists, we have a strong reputation and relationships within the public child welfare system, allowing us to truly work as a team with your family and the child’s county or state agency.

All of the social workers in our foster and adoption program have a Masters degree in Social Work and many of our social work staff and management are licensed clinical social workers. We also have a very low rate of social work turnover. This means that you will be working with a team of professionals with excellent social work skills and training, who are equipped to work sensitively and effectively with your family.

Orientation meetings for prospective foster and adoptive parents are regularly held at Lilliput offices. These informal group meetings are held in a casual setting and are led by a Lilliput social worker. Information about the foster-adoption process, the children in foster care and the role you would play is provided, with plenty of time for questions and answers.

You can contact your local Lilliput office (go to www.Lilliput.org to find the office closest to you) to register for an orientation and to learn more about the steps for fostering and adopting with Lilliput.

Foster Care Defined

2010-06-22T18:26:12Z

No one aspires to be a foster child. No child wants to live in a stranger’s home. No brother or sister likes having their family torn apart; losing contact with siblings. No teen chooses an unknown future.

Yet, every month, over 2,000 children statewide are placed into protective custody through the foster care system. Over 150 of these children are from Sacramento County.

Foster care is designed to be a temporary safety net for children who are unable to live safely with their birth families. Children enter foster care because they have been abused or neglected or have experienced other family problems such as substance abuse, mental illness or a parent’s incarceration.

A primary goal of foster care is to help children return to their families, preferably their birth parents. If that is not possible, kin (extended family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles or adult siblings) are often able to step in and raise a child. This is usually an ideal situation as the children tend to stay connected to their siblings and other family members, as well as to their culture, community and church. However, family care is not always an option. At this point, when the courts have determined that children cannot return safely to their birth parents and extended family is not available to care for them, an adoptive family is needed.

Lilliput Children’s Services is a local non-profit agency that works with children and families who have been touched by foster care, adoption and kinship care.

Founded in 1980, Lilliput has completed adoptions for over 4,500 foster children statewide.

In fact, Lilliput finalizes the most foster adoptions of any private agency in California.

Last fiscal year, of Lilliput’s 519 adoptions, 146 of the children were from Sacramento County’s foster care. This accounted for 40% of the county’s foster-adoptions.

Please follow “Lilliput Children’s Services” for more articles about foster care, adoption and kinship care.

For more information about Lilliput and their services, visit www.Lilliput.org.

California Lectures - Scott Simon “Covering War and Peace, Sports and Celebs”

2010-04-28T03:42:52Z

National Public Radio "Weekend Edition Saturday" host Scott Simon presented “Covering War and Peace, Sports and Celebs” at the Crest Theatre Monday evening.
This was the premier of a new lecture by Simon. The presentation was part of the California Lectures 2009-2010 season. It was a nearly full house of Simon's adoring fans.
He began by acknowledging and praising Capitol Public Radio. When Simon started in public radio in Chicago, there was only one national program from NPR, “All Things Considered.” He joked that when someone called WBEZ to ask what time “All Things Considered” was on, the station would reply, “What time would you like to listen to it?” He spoke to what a valuable resource NPR is today. He also joked about NPR listener demographics, citing the example that 26 percent of listeners own a Volvo.
Simon is very funny. He is like a standup comedian for the literary crowd. Besides being the host of “Weekend Edition Saturday", Simon has been a war correspondent for NPR and is a sports fanatic. He has also published four books, two of which are novels. He has a fifth book on the subject of adoption being published this summer.
He talked about the time he spent working as a foreign war correspondent covering wars in areas such as Afghanistan, Kosovo and Ethiopia. Kosovo is the setting of his 2005 novel, “Pretty Birds.” He also used his interest in sports in the novel. The main character in “Pretty Birds” is a female basketball player. His war stories were a mixture of the sad, poignant and funny.
“Home and Away: Memoir of a Fan” (2000), and “Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball” (2002) followed his interest in sports. He praised Robinson for being both a great athlete and a great sportsman. He spoke sadly about the current state of affairs in sports. He is most troubled about sports figures’ lack of respect for women and their sense of entitlement. He stated that he felt that sports figures are uniquely looked up to by children and bear responsibility to set a good example.
Speaking on journalism, Simon said, “There is room in the world for the pamphleteer, just not in journalism.” Real journalism challenges the listener or reader to look outside preconceived notions.
The subject currently closest to his heart is adoption. He and his wife have adopted two girls from China. The oldest turned 7 this weekend. His new book, which will be published in August, is titled “Baby We Were Meant for Each Other, In Praise of Adoption.” The book talks about what joy adoption has brought to him and his wife. While speaking about this, Simon paused, began to cry and had to compose himself.
The whole evening was warm, funny and was filled with a wonderful sense of humanity. Scott Simon stated that he did not know when he would be back in Sacramento. I do know that Monday night's audience would be thrilled to have him back.
Next up for California Lectures is: John Waters, in conversation with Edward Ortiz.
John Waters, the famous – or infamous – filmmaker, provocateur, art photographer, writer and all around great conversationalist, will be interviewed by The Sacramento Bee’s arts writer and classical music critic.
The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 26 at the Crest Theatre. Tickets can be bought at Tickets.com, by phone at (800) 225-2277 (service fee applies) or in person at the Crest Theatre Box Office 4:30-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 12:30-8 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

Sierra Forever Families Elects Dee Hartzog to Board of Directors

2010-04-01T17:21:16Z

Sierra Forever Families Elects Retired Attorney and Child Advocate Dee Hartzog to the Board of Directors.

Sacramento, CA – April 1, 2010 – Sierra Forever Families, Northern California nonprofit and industry leader in youth permanency, elects Dee Hartzog to its Board of Directors. Dee joins the 15 member board led by Eric Ratinoff, partner with Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff.

Dee Hartzog is a retired corporate attorney, having practiced 23 years with Weintraub, Genshlea & Chediak, a Sacramento law firm. Even before retirement, she began to realize the importance for a child to grow up in a loving and caring environment, both for the child and the community.

“I am extremely motivated by Sierra’s purpose and what it has accomplished,” remarked Dee, whose commitment to Sierra’s mission mirrors her passion for children, “Transforming children’s lives is my biggest passion.” As the grandmother of three small children, Dee sees first hand what nurturing can do for young children.

Dee has dedicated much of her time and her wealth of experience by serving on a number of non-profit boards, most of which are involved in helping children get a positive start in life. She currently serves on the following boards: Sutter’s Children’s Advisory Board, Mercy Foundation, and Mondavi Center Board, and previously she served on the board for Wonder, Inc.

“As president of the Board of Director for Sierra Forever Families, I am pleased that the board unanimously voted in favor of Dee’s nomination to the board.” Eric Ratinoff shared. “Dee’s passion for helping children and the experience she brings to the board will undoubtedly assist the agency in meeting its mission to transform the lives of children living in foster care.”

Sierra Forever Families mission is to transform the lives of children in foster care by building and nurturing permanent families. Through the leadership of our dedicated board and executive staff, Sierra has transformed the lives of over 2,500 children since its founding in 1983.

Finding homes and hope at the Sacramento SPCA

2009-11-22T00:58:41Z

"You are super cute," said Lesley Kirrene, as she walks past bright-eyed animals waiting for homes.

"Once the animals are on the adoption floor we have made a commitment to them that we will find them homes," said Kirrene, director of public relations for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The shelter is keeping its promise. Cage after cage proudly displays the blue sign reading "On hold," which means the animal is waiting to be picked up and brought home. The lucky dogs for the day were Dorris, Roscoe, Rockie, Dot, Brindle, Fred, Conan, Bob and Kasey, who wagged their tails excitedly, knowing that they were about to go home.

The shelter is not considered a "no-kill" facility because it takes aggressive animals that have a history of attack and animals sick beyond treatment that need to be euthanized.

"We're not a no-kill shelter, we are an open-door shelter," Kirrene said. "We give animals that never had a chance at adoption a chance: un-weaned kittens, animals that need amputation and that 9-year-old dog that would normally be euthanized. We will treat animals, bottle-feed kittens and amputate a leg."

The shelter is constantly improving their home-like habitats and finding new ways to prevent upper respiratory infections that are common in animals with sensitive immune systems.

"We are putting more levels into the cats' habitats so that they have even more space to hide and play," Kirrene said. "Having more space is important to preventing the animals from getting sick."

Along with improving the habitats, the SPCA is partnering with the County Animal Care and Regulation Center on Bradshaw Road, Sacramento Animal Care Services facility on Front Street and Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary on Folsom Boulevard. Together, they have created "Mission Orange," a pact among the animal shelters to come together and raise the live release rate among adoptable animals and reduce the number of euthanized animals, according to Kirrene. If improvements are seen, the shelters will receive a grant from the ASPCA which will help to keep the improvements coming.

The shelter takes pride in the care that they give their animals and their high adoption rates.

"We have great volunteers that take the animals out multiple times a day for walks and to go to the bathroom," Kirrene said. "We take animals from anywhere as far as Santa Barbara to the Butte area and bring them here because we can adopt them out."

Despite the success that the SPCA has in adopting animals, the organization's wish remains the same for the nation: to not need animal adoptions and for people to be responsible with their animals.

"We always say we wish we could be put out of business," Kirrene said

The shelter is currently working on their annual book sale, one of three large fundraising events for the shelter. For more information on upcoming events, programs offered, adoption opportunities or to make a donation, visit the SPCA website or visit the shelter at 6201 Florin Perkins Road.

Harry Potter and Captain Hook

Bullet

Otis

Eve

Gracie

Jed

Bubbles

Whisper

Milo

Gracie

Penny

Bear

Jay Jay

Smoochie

Suzie

Leah

A Bay Bay

Eve and Sugar Pie

Angel

CoCo

National Adoption Day is November 21

2009-11-18T23:25:20Z

November is National Adoption Month – Sacramento Shows its Commitment to Our Children

November 12 - Sacramento, California – Nationally, November is recognized at National Adoption Month. With nearly 500,000 children and youth living in foster across the country there is a tremendous need for families to come forward. In California, there are over 62,000 children and youth living in foster care and, of that, over 4,000 lived in the Greater Sacramento Region.

As the capital of California, Sacramento is committed to the children of our state who are living in foster care and are awaiting a permanent family. For many of these children, they have been removed from their birth families due to neglect, abuse and/or abandonment. Left to the system, these children will languish in foster care until they turn eighteen, and if a family or permanent connection is not found for these children, they will become a statistic – without a permanent family or connection, for youth who emancipate from the system at the age of eighteen, within 2-4 years, over 50% will be homeless, addicted to drugs, in prison or dead. This is unacceptable.

On November 21, National Adoption Day, Senator George Runner and Assemblyman Roger Niello will co-host an Adoption Resource Fair at Sunrise Community Church. The purpose of this event is to provide a call to action for area families and individuals who are considering helping a child by becoming an adoptive parent. Local foster/adoption agencies will be available to answer questions and provide resources to prospective families and post-adoption resources to existing foster/adoptive families. The event takes place from 11am – 3pm, with registration at 10:30am. Lunch and child care are available. To register: www.CommunityRenewal.net or call 916.349.1995.

Also taking place on November 21, Sacramento hosts a Calling Out of Names and Candlelight Vigil at the State Capitol from 2pm-5pm, concluding the event with a candlelight vigil on the north steps of the Capitol. Join government officials, child advocates, community leaders, adoptive families and former foster youth for this meaningful event. During the event, speakers will read aloud from a list of names of children living in California foster care. By reading aloud the names of the children who wait, Sacramento will stand up, speak and be the voice for the children who are waiting.

IKEA will recognize the Sierra Forever Families' Family of the Year with a $1,000 gift card during the event at the State Capitol. The Williams family has been selected as the Family of the Year. Michael and Michelle Williams have one biological daughter, Alexis, who is 10-years-old, and have expanded their family with the adoption of a sibling set of four. The children range in age from 20 months to 4 years. They truly are a wonderful family.

For those who are considering adopting a child, there are many resources available and tax incentives as well that will assist you in making the decision to welcome a child into your heart and home.

For more information on National Adoption Month and the activities taking place to support youth permanency, please contact: Sara Hanson at 916.368.5114 or visit www.sierraff.org

3rd Annual Kitty Palooza

2009-07-30T06:02:29Z

Needing to fill a void in your life? With two-for-one cat adoption specials, Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation's Kitty Palooza could be the event to help you do that.

This Saturday and Sunday will be an opportunity for Sacramento cat-lovers to find one, or two, new friends.

The third annual Kitty Palooza will be held at the Sacramento County Shelters on Bradshaw Road August 2. Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation Communication and Media Officer Annie Parker said the two-for-one cat adoption option is the main draw.

"We like to extol the benefits of having two cats; they keep each other company, they take care of each other, they don't get too bored and ruin your furniture," Parker said. "And when people find out that they get two for the same price that they can get one, we have gotten a lot of takers on it."

According to Parker, there are at least 100 adult cats and kittens up for adoption. They come with a bag of food, kitty litter, and toys. If they are not spayed or neutered upon the time of adoption, said Parker, they will be within the week.

Cats can have multiple litters a year, Parker said. Shelters like Sacramento County can receive a daunting influx of kittens in spring and early summer; Kitty Palooza is a way to help find them homes.

"Cat populations can explode and generally cats come in groups, and that could be six cats that have to be spayed or neutered," Parker said. "We have so many cats, so we do these two for ones and special adoption events because we overwhelmingly get more cats than dogs, always."

The event will also offer activities like face-painting, prize drawings, and free pet care information. The process of adopting a cat should be a personal and enjoyable one, said Parker, and the festival-like atmosphere will help to induce that experience.

"It's not like you just point at a cat, and it's like, 'Okay there you go.' They want you to sit down and get to know the cat. A lot of that stuff is here to put people at ease, so they can relax a little bit and take their time looking around. So we are offering little entertainment, carnival things like that," Parker said.

If you already have a cat, said Parker, adding another one to your home through Kitty Palooza involves "minimal issue." The event, a kitten mecca, has huge draw for children; the array of irresistible cats will usually result in a new addition to a home

"I ended up adopting a cat last year," Parker said. "You come, and it's kind of inevitable."

WHAT: Kitty Palooza
WHEN: Aug. 1, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Aug. 2, 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Sacramento County Shelter 4290 Bradshaw Road
COST: Free

For more information about Kitty Palooza, click here.
Photos Courtesy of Annie Parker

Sierra Adoption Services Launches New Customer-Focused Website To Promote Permanency for Youth Living in Foster Care

2009-04-02T18:43:51Z

April 2, 2009 – Sacramento, California - Sierra Adoption Services, a leader in providing permanence to children living in foster care, launched a brand new customer-focused, interactive website this week. The site, www.sierraff.org, which can also be accessed through www.sierraadoption.org, is designed in to meet the needs of our stakeholders, resource families and youth living in foster care.

“The agency was in desperate need of a new website,” said Bob Herne, Executive Director for Sierra Adoption Services. “Created by a volunteer over 10 years, the site had become antiquated; limiting how we update and maintain important communication to our stakeholders and prospective families.”

Sierra Adoption Services hired Circle Design, a local design and marketing firm, to guide the agency through the process and to create and implement a modern, user-friendly website to support in recruitment and fundraising efforts.

Bob added, “We vetted the proposed web content and usability upgrades with our staff, Board of Directors and stakeholders, and consulted with a leading public relations firm; the results greatly influenced the design of and development of our new site.”

Visitors to the site will easily access current information on the agency’s programs and services, requirements for becoming a resource family, profiles on available youth, online donation opportunities, upcoming special events and much more.

Beginning July 1, 2009, Sierra Adoption Services will become Sierra Forever Families. In the coming months, details of the exciting changes in store for the agency will also be communicated through the new website.

To allow search engines time to recognize the new site, Sierra has included a splash page from www.sierraadoption.org to direct visitors www.sierraff.org, which is the official new site for Sierra Forever Families.

About Sierra Adoption Services:

Founded over 25 years ago, Sierra Adoption Services mission is to transform the lives of children in foster care by building and nurturing permanent families. Traditionally focused on finding families for harder-to-place children living in foster care, Sierra has successfully placed over 2,000 with permanent, loving families and has helped hundreds more reunify with birth families or relatives.

For more information on Permanency Focused Foster Care and other ways to help local children living in foster care, please contact: Sara Hanson at 916-368-5114 or shanson@sierraadoption.org.