Foster family’s journey to adoption ends after almost 5-years of caring for 5-year-old girl
By Mike-Ross
A heartwarming story unfolded in New York as a loving family celebrated the joyful addition of a five-year-old girl through a successful adoption. Their connection with the little girl, whom they first encountered when she was merely two months old, blossomed into a beautiful journey of hope and permanence.
Cindy and Jeffrey Moore's initial encounter with Cece ignited their strong desire to provide her with a stable and loving home. After enduring a foster family experience spanning 1,954 days, their journey towards adoption reached its long-awaited destination.
Reflecting on the remarkable journey, Cindy expressed, "Here we are, more than five years later, and what was once a long-term placement has now become her forever home." Jeffrey echoed her sentiments, exclaiming their overwhelming happiness as they finally reached this significant milestone.
Residing in Depew, New York, the Moores embarked on their path to adoption following their personal experience with infertility. Their loving commitment to Cece has transformed their lives, bringing immeasurable joy and creating a lasting bond within their family.
Cindy shared, “Friends of ours had some children that they had fostered and then they were in the process of adopting some of them. So, we picked their brain a little bit, got a little bit of information about how the foster system worked and what their experiences were, and then they sent us information to the agency that we work through — Child and Family Services. That’s how we ended up getting certified through them.”
The Moores have been certified foster parents since 2015. Over the last eight years, the couple says they have welcomed over 30 children into their home.
“It’s really, really gratifying for us. We’re very excited about it. Every time we take a child in our house, you never really know how it’s going to pan out long term by the time you start,” said Jeffrey.
Being able to adopt, however, is extra special. In addition to Cece, the couple has adopted two other children via foster care, and now they’re currently in the process of adopting another child.
Cindy explained, “The same day that Cece was actually adopted, we found out that her half-brother that we’ve been fostering has been freed for adoption. So we’ll be starting the adoption process with him as well.”
In Cece’s case, the foster family’s journey to adoption started the minute they saw her. The plan was for Cece to stay with the Moores overnight, but fate had something else in store for the family.
Once they saw her cute face, Cindy jokingly said, “If you need a place long term, let us know.” The very next day, she was told that that they were looking for a long-term placement for Cece and they formally started the process of adoption.
On May 11, the family posed together for sweet photos with Cece’s adoption papers at Erie County Family Court.
The young girl happily held up a sign that said, “I’ve been in foster care for 1,954 days. Today, I’m being adopted!” There was definitely plenty of joy as the foster family’s journey to adoption ended in a forever home for Cece. She exclaimed, “My mom and dad are so nice. I love them.”
Fostering can be difficult, but the Moores said that a foster family’s journey to adoption is a rewarding experience. Though the primary goal of foster care is reunifying the child with the family, adoption is an option if reunification does not happen.
In the five years of waiting for Cece’s adoption to come through, the Moores had always known of the potential for the child to return to her biological family. Fostering and processing adoptions can thus be a rollercoaster of emotions for all parties involved.
Still, Jeffrey wants families to know that fostering and adopting a child can make a difference in their lives. The Moores are encouraging others to consider becoming foster parents too and understand how the process works.
It is important for foster families to realize that while foster children may eventually leave their home, they are giving valuable love and assistance to children and taking care of them in their time of need.
The Moores have seen some of their foster children return to their families but that has also given them satisfaction, particularly after seeing growth in the child’s family.
Though the Moores has had so many children come in and out of the house through the years, this foster family’s journey to adoption means that some of the kids will not be going anywhere and they are happily in a good and safe home.
To learn more about this foster family’s journey to adoption watch the video below:
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