GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — A Duval County tradition that’s been happening for years is crossing county lines to make the holiday season extra special for families going through the extensive adoption process in Clay County.
They're calling it Home for the Holidays. Judge Angela Cox handles dependency court cases at the Clay County courthouse and says the best part of her job is giving children their forever homes.
She initiated starting the holiday adoption day because this time of year is centered around celebrating families. Also using the event to help show the payoffs of getting involved in foster care.
“You see relief on the faces of the parents and the children, excitement because they've been waiting so long for their day to come," Cox explained. "It's really indescribable to see how happy people are on Adoption Day. And in the court system, almost every time you make a ruling, someone's unhappy with you except for adoptions; everybody's happy on adoption day."
Since there's no place like home for the holidays, this celebration is not just for creating new families, but honoring the last step in their adoptive process. A process that lasts at least a year, according to Judge Cox.
While she's been bringing families together for the past 19 years, this time around she will connect new families with some holiday magic and getting the kids involved in the courtroom.
"Our children that are being adopted are bailiffs if they're older, and they open court for us. The smaller children will hit the gavel for me, come up on the bench. They can wear special outfits; their shirts sometimes are matching for the families. So it's a very festive opportunity for them," Judge Cox added.
Unlike their typical adoption days that happen every month, this memorable moment will feature a surprise visit from Santa Claus and food.
The adoption day will take place on Wednesday the 18th, starting in the morning until every family finishes their courtroom session.