Adoption hearings in Missouri courts offer a rare moment of happiness where all parties leave the courtroom content. Recently, an adoption case in the Jasper County Circuit Court in Joplin provided such a moment, finalizing the adoption of a 21-month-old boy by his foster parents, with whom he had lived since shortly after his birth. The adoption hearing marked the legal completion of the boy becoming the natural-born child of these parents and the little brother to four older siblings.
Adoption cases like this occur frequently across Missouri. Over the last four fiscal years, the number of adoption cases in the state ranged from about 2,900 to 3,300 annually. These hearings often highlight the work of judges. For instance, one judge noticed glitter on his robe after an adoption hearing, a reminder of the innocence of the child involved.
Adoption cases typically begin in one of three ways: private adoptions, stepparent adoptions, and those arising from the juvenile justice system when a child needs a permanent home due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Regardless of the type, the judge must determine that adoption is in the child’s best interest, based on reports from family services workers, the local juvenile office, and a court-appointed guardian ad litem.
The recent adoption case in Jasper County was the third type, reliant on foster parents, who are in short supply in Missouri. Over the last year, the number of children in foster care in Missouri ranged from about 12,000 to 13,000. The state needs more qualified foster families to provide nurturing homes until children can be reunited with their natural parents or adopted. Those interested in becoming foster parents can learn more at the Missouri Department of Social Services.
There is also a shortage of child advocate volunteers. Missouri’s nonprofit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) association relies on volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Volunteers provide stable connections for children throughout the legal process, and children with CASA volunteers are less likely to spend extended time in foster care and more likely to be adopted. To learn more about volunteering with CASA, visit Missouri CASA.
