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Local News

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Couple adopts eight children
Diamond Mine Direct
By J. STEVEN DILLON

STAFF WRITER

A couple from southern Ohio did the unthinkable Monday: they adopted eight Hancock County children, all brothers and sisters, who have been living in three separate foster homes until recently.

The eight children, between the ages of 5 and 17, will become part of an even bigger family. Their adoptive parents already have seven children.

Monday's "mass" adoption may have been the most unusual in Hancock County history.

Hancock County Probate and Juvenile Judge Allan Davis conducted the final adoption hearing in Hancock County Common Pleas Court. The eight children fidgeted as they sat in the jury box, waiting for their names to be called by the judge.

While the proceeding was in a public courtroom, adoptions in Ohio are private matters, so the names of the adoptive parents and the eight children are not considered public record.

Records show the children were removed from their biological parents in February 2006 after being found in "unsafe and unsanitary conditions" at a Findlay home that had been condemned.

The home had one bathroom, with non-working plumbing.

The juvenile court granted Hancock County Children's Protective Services Unit permanent custody of the children in July 2007 following a trial.

That ruling, later upheld on appeal, came after the biological parents, who are considered "mildly" mentally retarded, failed to complete a case plan and were unable to obtain appropriate housing for the family. The couple also didn't complete evaluations and counseling, according to records.

At that point the adoption process started, and the couple from southern Ohio offered to adopt all eight children.

As the juvenile court judge, Davis oversees about 140 adoptions a year, most of them involving children who are adopted by a stepparent. Other adoptions, known as agency adoptions, take place after the Children's Protective Services Unit obtains permanent custody after establishing that neglect, abuse or dependency has occurred. Monday's proceeding was an agency adoption.

Most agency adoptions involve one or two children, and Davis can only recall one case where as many as four children were put up for adoption from the same family.

Couples rarely adopt multiple children, he said, and often siblings end up being adopted by different families.

Such was not the case on Monday. Not only will the eight children stay together, they will "inherit" seven other siblings — the adopting couple's "other" children.

Those children were also present for Monday's hearing.

Davis, who has overseen hundreds of adoptions since 1974, admitted Monday he has never had a case that involved so many children from the same family.

"This one was unique," he said. "It's almost always preferred to keep children together, but it isn't always possible. I've never had one work out like this."

The adoption was approved only after a series of background checks of the prospective parents, and evaluations and interviews with the children.

The Children's Services agency in the county where the adopting family resides worked closely with the Hancock County agency to ensure the arrangement was in the "best interests of the children."

The children have been living with the adoptive parents for the past six months or so, Davis said.

"It was kind of a trial run to see how things work out," he said.

Monday's final hearing was scheduled after all the T's had been crossed, and Davis had made arrangements for a courtroom big enough to hold the new family and well-wishers.

"There wouldn't have been room in my courtroom (in juvenile court)," Davis said.

One by one, the adoptees joined Davis at the bench, where the judge asked each, one last time, if they were OK with the arrangements and their new names.

Those over 12 years of age signed their names on documents, while Davis vouched for the younger children after they either responded or nodded their heads. Davis hoisted the youngest child, 5, onto his lap so the boy could see over the top of the desk.

Before they returned to their seats, Davis allowed each adoptee to pound the court gavel — and gave each one a miniature hammer as a keepsake. Following photographs with the judge, with all 17 members of the family present, and hugs from local caseworkers, the new extended family left the courtroom. Minutes later, they piled into a large van and headed "home" to begin their new lives in southern Ohio.

Dillon: 419-427-8423,

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9 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
K wrote:
Kudos to Judge Davis
“ Reading this story brings back so many memories of being raised with foster children in Findlay. I will always remember getting to pound the gavel as a sixth grader (29 years ago) when two of those foster children were adopted into our family. God bless you Judge Davis for all you continue to do for the many needy children of Hancock County! ”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:40:07 PM
owner wrote:
8 children
“ Praise the Lord! May this entire family be blessed beyond their dreams! :) ”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:43:34 PM
Jen wrote:
Eight children adopted
“ What a refreshing story. It was a wonderful thing for this family to do-taking on all these children. While I feel for the natural family of the children, and understand this might be an upsetting article to them, I also wonder if any of them stepped up to take on the children. The parents obviously didnt, or couldnt do what they needed to to keep them, so thank God that these beautiful people stepped in to take them all, and keep them together. It warms my heart to know they have a chance to rise above the deplorable conditions they were raised in and have a good life. May God bless these people, and reward them all with a happy and fufilling life. ”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:32:59 AM
JS wrote:
wishing them well
“ I think it is a great thing to post that this family went way out of their way to keep these children together! If I were their real parents I would be eternaly grateful to them for doing so. This was obviously not a closed adoption and the real parents may still have a chance to be in their lives in the future. I think this remarkable family deserves recognition for their efforts and will inspire others to follow their lead. ”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:04:05 AM
vicki wrote:
Great Story!
“ What wonderful news! ”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:13:13 AM
Linda Reinhart wrote:
family adopts 8 children
“ I go online each morning and read the Courier since I live in Florida after moving from Fostoria, today's story about the 8 children was such a ray of hope we don't need the wonderful sun here. How blessed those children are and what a wonderful family to include them.Please let them know that people across the country are pulling for them. Thank God for people like them. Now 8 of our treasures will have a better life for sure. Linda Reinhart retired Sun City Center Florida ”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 7:55:48 AM
Julie Bolyard wrote:
children
“ This has to be one of the most uplifting stories that i have ever read..my thought and prayers go out to this family and the judge they all did the right thing in matter..how cool ”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 7:55:46 AM
Jennifer Reigle wrote:
Eight Children Adopted
“ The 8 children were/are my nieces and nephews. I am glad that they can finally have a home that we'll be theirs together. I am sad that they won't be around the area but at least they have each other to lean on. ”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 5:55:08 AM
tanya wrote:
this is crazy
“ how can you post this knowing the family still may live in findlay and it could crush them and that they would be hurt and have problems with this being published ”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 2:28:30 AM
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.