Sitting atop the judge’s bench in the court room, Olivia* banged the gavel on the desk and gave a big 3-year-old smile to her new adoptive forever family across the court room. Also in attendance was her 7-year-old half-brother Sammy*, who sat in the audience with his soon to be forever family. Just two years ago, Olivia and Sammy had been living with their biological mother, often left alone to care for themselves. When the siblings were found alone, 5-year-old Sammy had been acting on protective impulse, trying to feed 8-month-old Olivia with a bottle of old milk. Now they would both be adopted by loving, caring families.

For Olivia, she was inheriting two 18-year old twins as siblings and her paternal great aunt and uncle as parents. They had served as her foster family for the last few years. Read More