PORT ANGELES — Miles Bennett, 2, has been a member of the Bennett family since he was born, but on Thursday — National Adoption Day — it was made official.
As a “jury” of teddy bears watched the proceedings, Court Commissioner W. Brent Basden declared Crystal and Lonnie Bennett the legal parents of Miles.
“Miles has been with us since Day One,” Lonnie Bennett said. “He’s been our baby from the beginning and to make it official and forever is a wonderful thing.”
A “jury” of teddy bears watches on during adoption proceedings in Clallam County Superior Court on Thursday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
The Bennetts have opened their home to foster children in the area and have cared for many children over the years. In many cases children are eventually placed back with their families.
In their home they care for three biological children, three foster children and two adopted children, he said.
“We get choices when they come, but we don’t get choices when they go,” he said. “The state makes those decisions and it’s easy to fall in love with a beautiful kid and it’s easy to get your heart broken.
“This is one of those stories where we’re the lucky ones.”
Two other children were adopted by their stepfather at the ceremony.
Clallam County Court Commissioner W. Brent Basden chats with two-year-old Miles Bennett after he was adopted Thursday on National Adoption Day. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
The approximately 40 people who attended the proceedings Thursday heard from people in the foster and court systems and also heard from foster parents who have adopted their charges.
The Rev. Tim Hughes of First Baptist Church in Port Angeles and Tiffinny Blore, an instructional coach for the special education department in the Port Angeles School District, each shared their experiences with the foster system.
Hughes said he and his wife began fostering children because they wanted to help children in crisis; he said there is always heartache when the foster system gets involved.
Sherri Jones — adoption specialist for the state Department of Children, Youth and Families — said those who work with children in the foster care system do not receive enough recognition.
She held back tears as she asked social workers in the room to stand to be recognized.
The Rev. Tim Hughes of First Baptist Church of Port Angeles speaks about being a foster parent during the National Adoption Day ceremony at the Clallam County Courthouse on Thursday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
“These social workers work tirelessly to safely reunite children with their families and when reunification is not possible they help prepare these children for adoption,” she said. “There is not enough recognition for all the things these workers do.”
She said they often work late. She has seen social workers fly across the country to take children to their permanent home.
She called them the unsung heroes and said she is proud of the work they do.
“We are so proud of you, all of our workers,” she said. “Thank you so much for all that you do.”
Basden, who oversees Clallam County’s Family Court, said he sits at the point where all the hard work is presented and he needs to make a decision.
“It’s impossible to always get it right because you’re choosing between almost impossible situations sometimes,” he said, adding he knows those involved are doing their best. “The reasons that’s even possible is because of n absolute conviction that I have that without fail social workers, [Court Appointed Special Advocate] volunteers, attorneys, administrators and service providers and doing their best.
“Sometimes that can get lost in the shuffle of a contentious court hearing and it’s easy to lose sight,” he said. “I at least get to go home with a great confidence that those involved are doing their best.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
