On Friday Nov. 22, 15 children will join seven families in Hamilton County Job and Family Services’ seventh annual mass adoption ceremony.

Although adoptions are usually confidential, these families have agreed to be part of the ceremony to help celebrate National Adoption Month and raise awareness about adoption from foster care. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in Judge Cissell’s Hamilton County Probate Court.

This year, the ceremony will not only be live-streamed over the Internet, but HCJFS will also host a live chat. Visit www.hcjfs.org on Nov. 22 to watch the ceremony and join the chat.

"There won’t be many dry eyes in the courtroom," said HCJFS Director Moira Weir. "Finalizing an adoption is always the culmination of a tremendous amount of work by our staff. Pairing a child with specific needs with a family that can meet those needs is difficult. But when you get it right, the reward is great."

The children, who all have a history of abuse and neglect, will join their new families, caseworkers, court-appointed advocates and other family members in a celebration after the conclusion of the event.

The adoption ceremony is also a symbol of the 70 adoptions finalized so far this year. Currently, there are still 190 Hamilton County children waiting for their forever family.

Included in this year’s ceremony:

• A sibling set of four is being adopted by the foster parents they have lived with for over three years.
   
• Two teenage boys, who had been separated for two years, were reunified by their foster parents, who will adopt them.
   
• A 2-year-old boy is being adopted by his great grandmother's cousin. She has also been a daycare provider for Hamilton County for over 17 years.
   
• A 12 year-old boy and his 11-year old brother are being adopted by their foster mother, who they have lived with for two years.
   
• A 2-year-old boy is being adopted by his foster parents. They also have two adopted daughters from HCJFS foster care.
   
• Two boys, 4 and 5, are being adopted by their foster parents who they have lived with for six months.
   
• A sibling set of three is being adopted by their foster parents. Two of the children have been with the family for seven years and the other child has been with them for two.

If you are interested in adopting or becoming a foster parent, you can learn more by visiting www.hckids.org, calling (513) 632-6366 or emailing adoption@jfs.hamilton-co.org.