Myaleah is about to celebrate her third birthday.  Her mom, Evette, laughs as Myaleah shows her a birthday piñata from a party catalogue—it’s a giant nose with green streamers hanging from the nostrils. 

When Evette asks Myaleah why she would want a giant nose piñata for her birthday, she giggles, “Because it’s gross!”

Four years ago when David and Evette decided to adopt, they researched adoption agencies in the area, and decided on Amara because of its reputation and eight decades of service to the community.  Evette realized that “Amara’s been around for so long, and they just made it so easy between the parenting classes and support from our social workers.” 

Baby Myaleah came to David and Evette from foster care when she was only four days old. Their lives changed instantly.  Evette remembers, “We were on a cloud; we were so excited to have her in our lives.”  Still, the family dealt with much uncertainty and anxiety as it would be another two years before Myaleah’s adoption was legally finalized.  But they knew Myaleah was their daughter and they would do whatever she needed.

Like Myaleah, more than half of the children from foster care placed in Amara adoptive homes will not be able to celebrate their adoption finalization for 6 months to 3 years following placement.  During this time the State will fulfill all legally mandated responsibilities toward the child and the child’s birth family.  Throughout this period Amara’s social workers are monitoring, supporting, and communicating with the family on a regular basis.  Amara is committed to a high level of care and partnership, which means supporting our families as much as is needed in order to provide each child a stable, nurturing home with parents that can help them heal. 

They had such a positive experience with Myaleah that David and Evette discussed adopting a second child.  Two weeks after speaking with their Amara social worker, they received a phone call.  Myaleah’s birthmother had just gone into labor, and knew that she wanted her baby placed with David and Evette.  Soon enough, the family welcomed Myaleah’s baby brother Savion into their home.  “We were completely shocked,” Evette says.  “We were so happy and so nervous at the same time.” 

With Myaleah’s adoption now finalized and Savion’s close behind, David and Evette are thrilled to have been blessed with adopting birth siblings.  Myaleah is especially excited to have her baby brother at home, and her parents believe that both children will continue to thrive as they grow with each other.