Nov 17, 2025
Kern County’s 23rd Annual National Adoption Day celebration will be held, Friday, November 21st, 2025, at the Juvenile Justice Center, 2100 College Avenue. The media is invited into the Courtroom for a Press Conference beginning at 9:30 a.m., which will be preceded by a very special adoption. Please arrive early to find parking.
There will be over 50 finalizations occurring on National Adoption Day, at both the Superior Court, Juvenile Division, and privately at the Superior Court’s Family Law Division.
Once the adoption finalization is completed inside the courtroom, the families are invited to celebrate outside the courtroom on the lawn of the Juvenile Justice Center. This memorable day has been crafted to help celebrate the creation of new families in our community. Children will be given the opportunity to adopt their own teddy bear, as well as take part in our space-themed games. Families will be treated to a BBQ, and a professional photographer will be on site to capture their memorable day.
Nearly all families sign a release form, allowing interviews and photos. However, some are more private, and we will ensure you are made aware of those not wishing to be photographed.
KCDHS is grateful to our many partners which include Kern County Superior Courts, Koinonia Foster Agency, Aspiranet Foster Agency, Kern Bridges Foster Agency, Bakersfield Angels, the CARE Foundation, CASA of Kern County, and ALL the social workers and adoption staff, who work diligently to complete the rigorous process of adoption. Most of all, we are grateful for all of the Resource Foster Parents, who step into this role, making it possible for children to have a forever family.
The amount of love and joy that radiates from these adoptive parents, children, judges, and everyone involved in the courtroom is immense. By allowing the media into this personal part of these families’ journeys, we hope to inspire our community to consider becoming a foster or adoptive parent.
Press Release on behalf of the Department of Human Services.
