Saud Anwar

Senator Anwar Joins South Windsor Couple at Hartford Juvenile Court to Celebrate the Adoption of Their Son During National Adoption Month

HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) joined Julianna and Shaun Kelly of South Windsor at Hartford Juvenile Court the day before National Adoption Day and during National Adoption Month to celebrate the adoption of their son, Gavin. The Kellys agreed to open their adoption to the public in honor of National Adoption Day, an annual event held this weekend and intended to raise awareness of the need for adoptive parents. Adoption creates a critical family bond that helps children gain stability and find their “forever home.”

“Joining the Kellys today as they welcome Gavin into their family was a privilege and honor,” said Sen. Anwar. “I am so happy for them as they start a new chapter of their lives. This is a wonderful event to celebrate the joys of adoption and raise awareness that we need more individuals willing to open their homes and create families. I am thrilled for the Kellys and their happy future.”

“Children deserve and benefit from the continuity that kinship provides, and they also deserve permanency that will serve as a mooring for them as they grow into adulthood,” said Department of Children and Families Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes.

National Adoption Day is annually celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving to raise awareness of the numerous children in foster care seeking a “forever home.”

Hundreds of children are adopted each year in Connecticut, with 532 adoptions completed in the 2019 fiscal year. Another 340 children became permanent residents through subsidized guardianship. While the population of children in foster care in Connecticut has declined 9 percent since January 2011, more than 4,000 children are still in foster care as of the beginning of November. For more information about potentially adopting a child, please call 888-KID-HERO or visit www.ctfosteradopt.com.