San Diego City Wire

The County’s Child and Family Well-Being Department (CFWB) recently held its annual Adoption Day Party at the Juvenile Courthouse to mark National Adoption Month. This year, 31 families completed the adoption process for 36 children.

Among these families were Raymond and Ricciee Soriano, who adopted three-year-old Parker. Raymond expressed his emotions by saying, “I couldn’t sleep last night… This overwhelming feeling of oh my god this is really it.” Ricciee added, “When we were signing our paperwork and saw his name, what his new name is going to be, that’s when it just was oh my gosh, this is really happening… he’s finally ours.”

The couple began fostering Parker when he was four months old and were thrilled when the adoption was finalized.

Information about becoming a resource parent can be found at SDCares4kids.com.

Family strengthening remains a key focus of the CFWB. Since its inception in July 2023, after merging with the First 5 Commission and Child Welfare Services, the department has reduced foster care numbers by nearly 12 percent. Additionally, 44 percent of children placed into foster care found homes with relatives, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

The department continues to work with community members and experts to improve family services through initiatives like developing a Community Response Guide and advancing efforts related to the Child Care Blueprint.