CHICAGO, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Working in shifts, judges began finalizing more than 3,100 adoptions nationwide Friday in celebration of the fourth National Adoption Day.
In Chicago, Judge Michael J. Murphy presided over the first of 50 adoptions at the downtown Daley Center -- dubbed "the world's largest delivery room." Courtrooms were festooned with streamers and balloons and each newly-adopted child received visit with the judge, a teddy bear and candy.
"I am honored to be part of this national movement to welcome children into safe, stable families," said Murphy, presiding judge of Cook County Circuit Court. Both of his parents were adopted.
Similar adoption ceremonies are being held in more than 120 U.S. cities through the weekend to mark National Adoption Day.
There are more than 542,000 children in foster care in the United States, 126,000 waiting to be adopted.
Child welfare officials said the number of children in foster care has nearly doubled since 1987 and 20,000 age out of the system each year without ever being placed with a permanent family.
