By Kim Hilsenbeck

George Mercado and Jennifer Castillo just recently adopted 15-year-old Gabby. Marilyn Nwaokobia adopted baby Kamilla Davis.

They and dozens of other Hays County families celebrated the occasion at Monday’s Cen-Tex Adoption Day. 

According to data from Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, last year, 5,149 abused or neglected children were adopted from state care.  Although adoptions from Texas foster care have more than doubled in the last ten years, there are always more children needing homes. 

Today, more than 6,500 children and teens are waiting to be adopted. Many are older children and teens. Currently in Hays County there are 44 children waiting for their forever families. More than 700 children in Central Texas are waiting for their forever families.  

“No child should have to grow up in foster care,” Lisa Black, DFPS assistant commissioner for Child Protective Services, said. “But no matter their age, children and teens never outgrow the need for parents and the stability only a family can give.” 

Texas needs foster and adoptive parents for children of all ages. Some of these children have special medical, physical, or emotional needs. There is always a need for families willing to adopt African-American children who are overrepresented in foster care.

The Cen-Tex Adoption Day took place Texas Old Town in Kyle.  More than 40 children were welcomed into new families.