(Pottawattamie Co.) The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors approved an annual request from Judge Kathleen Kilnoski to use the Pottawattamie County Courthouse for the National Adoption Day Celebration on Saturday, November 22nd.
Judge Kilnoski said that around 1998, judges in California realized they had a backlog of adoption cases and did not have enough time to hold final adoption hearings, so they opened their courthouses on a Saturday.
Judge Kilnoski said they make it a celebration — the kids enjoy crafts and face painting, a professional photographer donates a family photo, and the judges and court administration staff all volunteer their time to make the adoptions happen.
Judge Kilnoski said Pottawattamie County has celebrated National Adoption Day since 2006. More than 200 children in the county have been adopted on this day since then. This year, about 14 children from southwest Iowa will be adopted into their permanent families.
