by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Gov. Charlie Crist stopped in Jacksonville Wednesday to recognize the State’s record-breaking abilities.
“And I’m not referring to the Gators,” said Crist.
He made an appearance in courtroom four to recognize July 22 as “Explore Adoption Day” and to witness two adoptions that were presided over by two different judges.
“I want to recognize Judge (David) Gooding for his efforts in juvenile court and adoptions,” said Crist. “I’ve been told you broke your own record for adoptions two years in a row. That is truly commendable.”
The governor was joined by Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon and Chief Child Advocate Jim Kallinger.
Crist was proud of the record-breaking pace of the State as a whole over the last two fiscal years. Florida’s public adoption system produced 3,776 adoptions during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. That number eclipsed the 2007-08 total of 3,674, which beat the previous state record of 3,389 adoptions in 2003-04. The year also saw the fewest children entering foster care since 2003.
In Jacksonville, Family Support Services of North Florida has led the state in the number of adoptions in three of the past four years, and during fiscal years from 2007–09 it facilitated 956 adoptions.
Gary and Emma Stamper stepped before Circuit Court Judge Jim Daniel and accepted responsibility for their grandchildren Deborah, 11, and Russell Hess, 10, at the first adoption hearing of the afternoon in courtroom four.
“I love them,” said Emma Stamper, when Judge Daniel asked why the couple decided to take on the responsibility. “They are my grandchildren.”
Judge Daniel was flanked by a guest making a special appearance at the request of a child that was officially adopted Wednesday.
Seventeen-year-old Aaron Cooper asked for Circuit Court Judge David Gooding to preside over his adoption hearing, even though Gooding has moved on to the Criminal Division. Even so, Gooding was able to rearrange his docket to participate in the ceremony.
“I would be delighted and honored,” said Gooding, in response to the request, as it was the final chapter of an adoption case that he had been involved with while on the Juvenile bench. “There is no proceeding with more eternal significance than an adoption and no order a judge can sign that is of greater importance than a Final Judgment of Adoption.”
Before Cooper was officially adopted by Wayne and Deborah Norman of St. Augustine, he was given a chance to let the court know what the experience has been like getting to know the Normans.
“It’s so wonderful when I am around them,” said Cooper. “It feels so wonderful to be with a family that loves me.”
People who adopt a child from foster care receive support from the state in the form of a monthly subsidy that averages $350 per child, Medicaid for the child until their 18th birthday and paid tuition to any Florida university, junior college or trade school.
“The government is such a poor substitute for a parent,” said Gooding. “Children need ears to listen to them, arms to hold them and hearts to love them.”
Adoption proceedings may provide many happy endings for children across Florida, but work also needs to be done to make it more difficult for the journey to begin.
“It’s responsibility and accountability,” said Circuit Court Judge Henry Davis of the Juvenile Division. “(The government) makes it too easy for parents to walk away from their responsibilities time and time again. That needs to change.”
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