Family Law Attorney Marcie Baker Praises National Adoption Day Project

Zephyrhills, FL (Law Firm Newswire) November 13, 2013 – November 23, 2013 is National Adoption Day in the United States, and President Obama recently proclaimed November 2013 to be National Adoption Month.

This year marks the 13th annual National Adoption Day, which is celebrated the Saturday before each Thanksgiving. The event is intended to raise awareness of the approximately 400,000 American children currently in foster care. According to the National Adoption Day Coalition, some 4,500 adoptions were finalized during the event in 2012, a figure they hope to match this year.

“National Adoption Day is a terrific cause,” said Zephyrhills family law attorney Marcie Baker. “It’s important to raise awareness of the large numbers of children who need to find loving forever homes.”

Last year, nearly 400 cities observed National Adoption Day, according to the coalition. This year, events will take place throughout the month in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. The celebration in Tampa, Florida begins at the Hillsborough County Courthouse on Twiggs Street at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 15.

The project’s website features videos of adoptees, families, organizations, and advocates telling their stories. One couple, Tammy and Chris Dunne of Tampa, were very familiar with the foster system. Chris had been adopted as a child, and Tammy grew up and reached adulthood in the foster system. After doing some research online, they realized they wanted to give back by adopting a child. They soon discovered four brothers, all living apart from one another in foster care. A year later, after many meetings and visits, they legally adopted Gaelan, 14, Trisden, 12, Aaron, 10, and John, 8.

National Adoption Day began in November 2000, when the coalition worked with state agencies, advocacy groups, law firms, and courts to finalize several hundred adoptions in nine cities across the nation.

In a proclamation declaring November 2013 to be National Adoption Month, President Obama touted legislation he signed in January 2013 to make the Adoption Tax Credit permanent. The legislation offers families who adopt or attempt to adopt a child a tax credit for expenses relating to the process.