MONTICELLO – Adoption may be a simple word to the common outsider, but to a child looking for a permanent home, it makes all the difference. It was this theme that emanated through Courtroom 1 at the Lawrence H. Cooke Sullivan County Courthouse last Friday afternoon as Sullivan County officials and adoptive families congregated to hear stories and share in the embrace of family.

Described by Family Court Judge Honorary Jacqueline Ricciani as the “second and/or third” Annual Adoption Day due to last year’s snow-out, this day commemorates an event that occurred in California back in 2000. There had been an extreme backlog of adoptions in Los Angeles County until one judge opened the courtroom to nothing but adoptions all day to work out said backlog.

This event resulted in the coalition of organizations including the Dave Thomas’ Foundation of Adoption, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, Children’s Action Network and Alliance for Children’s Rights to oversee and create National Adoption Day. Monticello’s event is just one of many happening around the country, with Ricciani noting Orange County having one Friday as well.

“In 2024, there were 15 boys and 16 girls who were all adopted. Out of those were four adult adoptions” noted Ricciani. “This year for 2025, we have had five boys and nine girls, and we are expecting six more before the end of the year. We are really doing very nicely with our adoptions.”

To Sullivan County Health and Human Services Commissioner John Liddle, Adoption Day fell on a “great time of the year to celebrate” due to its close proximity to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Because of this, Liddle noted of how important it was to be appreciative for what we have.

Liddle reflected on the past year of changes that the Department of Social Services has endured, including the retirement of Wendy Mason after putting her all into her open-arms service to Sullivan County’s foster and adopted kids. However, her retirement came with “young talent” that brought new energy to the foster care unit.

“[We want to preserve families as much as we can] but obviously there are situations where you need adoptive parents and we can’t be thankful enough for what all the adoptive moms and dads do for our kids here in Sullivan County,” acknowledged Liddle. “You give these kids a chance at a life that they would not have had an opportunity to access and a love in your home that is just beyond what those kids could comprehend. It’s so important and we really appreciate you for it.”

Also speaking at the event, Sullivan County Director of Communications Dan Hust told of his personal connections to the Courthouse itself as in 1976, his adoption papers were finalized in that very building. Since then, he has been extremely grateful that he was adopted.

Hust cited this adoption as having altered the “entire course of [his] life”, stating that being adopted had given him a stable, loving, and caring childhood in an instance where he wouldn’t have one otherwise. He traced his journey from a year in Guam to visiting Tokyo to starting college at SUNY Sullivan. From SUNY Sullivan Hust ventured to SUNY Oneonta to receive his master’s in journalism.

“I didn’t think I was coming back to the area but in the mid ‘90s I did. [My father’s sudden passing upon my return] served to keep me around a little longer,” recounted Hust. “That just became a little longer, a little longer … and longer. What benefited me is something that we can offer to people here and now today.”

Esq. Colleen Cunningham, the Attorney for Adoptive Parents, detailed her history of work in the adoption system from being a managing attorney for the Department of Family Services to now representing adoptive parents. Cunningham told of her first adoption appearance many years back.

She recounted of a young girl that was so excited to share her new name that she jumped up before the adoption process had even been finished. Also of note was Cunningham’s acknowledgement towards the dedication of foster and adoptive parents, the patience needed to navigate long permanency cases, as well as the collaboration of attorneys, county officials, caseworkers, and courts to lead children to stable homes.

“These adoptions are not adversarial,” stated Cunningham. “It’s a team effort … and the real heroes are these beautiful children.”

Following the remarks, Macaroni the Clown appeared to entertain and delight guests and kids with a variety of tricks and jokes.