Colorado courts celebrate National Adoption Day, more than 100 foster children united with permanent families

DENVER – National Adoption Day will be celebrated in many of Colorado’s Judicial

Districts between Thursday, Nov. 17 and Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, with judges and magistrates

throughout Colorado finalizing the adoption of more than 100 foster children into permanent

families. Colorado is currently home to 365 children waiting for permanent families.

“Adoption Day is always a special day in Colorado’s courts,” said Chief Justice Michael

L. Bender. “I am pleased to see many of our courts taking the opportunity to recognize National

Adoption Day on a local level. However, this is but one day out of the year and we must remain

focused on the fact that there are still many children in need of good homes.”

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 agencies and advocacy

groups.

Following is a rundown of Adoption Day activities in Colorado:

First Judicial District (Jefferson and Gilpin counties) – Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, from

9 to 11 a.m. at the Jefferson County Combined Court (100 Jefferson Parkway, Golden, CO

80401). District Court Judges Margie Enquist, Tamara Russell and Ann Meinster will finalize 18

adoptions for 12 families.  Colorado Supreme Court Justice-designate Brian Boatright (currently

a First Judicial District Court Judge) will be in attendance. For more information contact Kris

Kinzli at 303-271-4601 or Mallory Hyatt at 303-271-4389 with Jefferson County Human

Services.

Second Judicial District (Denver County) – Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, from 9 a.m. to noon

at the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse (520 W. Colfax, Denver, CO 80204). Denver Juvenile Court

Judges Donna Schmalberger and D. Brett Woods will join Juvenile Magistrates Howard Bartlett

news

Colorado Judicial Branch

Michael L. Bender, Chief Justice

Gerald Marroney, State Court Administratorand Melanie Gilbert, along with Denver District Court Judges Morris Hoffman and Herbert Stern

to unite 51 children with 33 families. For more information contact Barbara Bosley, Family

Court Facilitator, Denver Juvenile Court, 720-337-0584.  This is the seventh annual celebration

of National Adoption Day in Denver.

Third Judicial District (Huerfano and Las Animas counties) – While no adoption

proceedings are scheduled, District Court Judge Leslie Gerbracht reports that the Court will host

a reception on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. for families who have adopted in the past.

The reception will be held in the District Court Courtroom at the Las Animas County Courthouse

(200 E. 1

st

St., Trinidad, CO 81082). For more information contact Arlene Lopez, DHS Child

Protection Unit Supervisor, at 719-846-2276.

Fifth Judicial District (Clear Creek, Eagle, Lake and Summit counties) – On Friday,

Nov. 18, 2011, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. District Court Judge Russell Granger will preside over the

adoption of five children into four families. The proceedings will take place at the Clear Creek

County Courthouse (405 Argentine, Georgetown, CO 80444). For more information contact

Kimberlee Hill, Clerk of Court, at 303-679-4220.

Tenth Judicial District (Pueblo County) – On Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, beginning at 9:30

a.m. in Division B, District Court Judge Larry Schwartz will preside over the adoption docket.

Nine children are slated to be adopted into seven families. For more information contact Karen

Hiraki, Pueblo Department of Human Services, at 719-583-4716.

Eleventh Judicial District (Chaffee, Custer, Fremont and Park counties) – On

Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, Chief District Court Judge Charles Barton will finalize the adoptions

of five children into four families. The adoption proceedings will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the

Fremont County Justice Center (136 Justice Center Road, Canon City, CO 81212). For more

information contact Nancy Myers, Fremont County DHS, at 719-269-2092.

Seventeenth Judicial District (Adams and Broomfield counties) – On Saturday, Nov.

19, 2011, from 9 a.m. to noon 23 children will be united with permanent families. The

proceedings will take place at the Adams County Justice Center (1100 Judicial Center Drive,

Brighton, CO 80601). District Court Judges Mark Warner and Francis Wasserman will join

Magistrates Greg Beacom and Peter Stapp in presiding over the docket. For more information

contact Jennifer Mendoza, Juvenile Court Programs Coordinator, at 303-654-3230.

Nineteenth Judicial District (Weld County) – On Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, from 1 to 5

p.m. District Court Judge Marcelo Kopcow will preside over 11 adoptions and Magistrate

Randall Lococo will preside over one adoption. Adoption proceedings will take place at the Weld County Courthouse (901 9

th

Ave. Greeley, CO 80631). For more information call Judge

Kopcow’s chambers at 970-351-7300 x5490.

Twenty-first Judicial District (Mesa County) – On Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, from 8 a.m.

to 1:30 p.m. District Court Judge Valerie Robison will preside over an adoption docket bringing

together eight children with seven families.  The adoptions will take place at the Mesa County

Justice Center (125 N. Spruce Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501). For more information contact

Karen Martsolf, Mesa County DHS, at 970-256-2453.

National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the 107,000

children in foster care across the country waiting to find permanent, loving families. Since its

inception, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true

through the cooperative work of courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare

agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in

foster care.

National Adoption Day is celebrated every year in November. In 2006, for the first time,

National Adoption Day was celebrated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

That year, more than 250 events were held throughout the country to finalize the adoptions of

more than 3,300 children in foster care, and to celebrate all families who adopt. Since 2000,

more than 35,000 children have had their adoptions finalized on National Adoption Day