Court finalizes 23 adoptions on National Adoption Day

By: Amanda Pitts

alpitts@abc6.com

@APittsABC6

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island Family Court finalized 23 adoptions with 19 families at Kent County Court on Saturday to mark National Adoption Day.

“I’m speechless. We’ve waited a long time.”

Margaret and Carl Gamba were one of the families who adopted. They’re now the legal parents of James, the child of their now-grown foster son.

“He and mom are not able to care for him, and it is our deep pleasure to be able to do that. I don’t think there’s anything more important than being a foster parent and giving a good home to children who need it. And adoption, adoption is the best thing,” said Margaret Gamba.

The Choiniere’s are a family that’s celebrating the new adoptions while giving thanks for their own. Parents Amanda and Cliff adopted biological siblings Benjamin and Bella six years ago.

“It changed our family so much for the positive, these kids bring us more joy than we could ever give anything to them,” said Amanda Choiniere.

The family’s adoption process was so positive, it inspired Amanda to change career paths to work for Adoption Rhode Island, to help kids like hers find their forever home.

“To be in a family forever, never to have to move again, never to have to have 8 different placements in foster care again, never to have to worry about what their next meal was gonna be like.”

She hopes to inspire more adults to make the decision to adopt.

“There’s never the perfect time to be a parent. There’s never a perfect parent, but you can always make a difference.”

Adoption Rhode Island has found homes for more than 1,800 children over the years.

The state has been participating in National Adoption Day for 15 years. 

(c) WLNE-TV 2018