Administrative Office of Courts
8th Chancery Court celebrates Adoption Day Nov. 12 The 8th Chancery Court will celebrate a special Adoption Day on Friday, Nov. 12, at the Harrison County Courthouse in Gulfport. A public celebration is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom Number 3 on the second floor of the Harrison County Courthouse. Adoptive parents and children and their extended families, judges, court staff, Department of Human Services staff, Professionals Advocating for Children Together (PACT) members and other volunteers and well-wishers will gather in the courtroom to celebrate with refreshments. Members of the media are welcome at the public celebration in the courtroom. Formal proceedings in any adoption case are closed to the public. No media coverage will be allowed in the judge’s chambers as the adoptions are finalized. Chancery Judge Margaret Alfonso, senior judge of the 8th Chancery District, will preside over hearings in chambers to finalize the adoptions. Some of the adopting families have previously provided foster care to the children. Judge Alfonso, who began participating in National Adoption Day in 2004, said, “There is nothing more satisfying than placing a child permanently in a loving, stable home.” The Quota Club will take pictures of the new adoptive families. The Department of Mental Health and Southern Christian Services will provide refreshments. Resilience of Coastal Kids (ROCK) will provide treat bags for the children. November is National Adoption Month. National Adoption Day will be celebrated around the country on Nov. 20. Special adoption observances date back to 1976, when the governor of Massachusetts proclaimed Adoption Week. That same year, President Gerald Ford, who was adopted, made the observance national. In 1990, it was expanded to National Adoption Month. More information about National Adoption Day is available at http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/. #### |
