Munck Wilson Mandala’s Los Angeles-based attorneys Kate LaQuay, Jane Davidson, and Sahar Shiralian partnered with the Alliance for Children’s Rights to launch a pro bono program aimed at facilitating foster care adoption. The team successfully represented three families in finalizing their adoptions on National Adoption Day, which was celebrated on November 18, 2023. The in-person hearings were held in Monterey Park, California (part of LA County Superior Court). The parents, minor children, and legal representatives, including LaQuay, Davidson, and Shiralian attended the hearings.
One of the three families represented by MWM was the Brooks family. Daven Brooks adopted his two nieces, Prosperity (3) and Athena (9), after they spent most of their lives in the foster care system. Additionally, MWM helped two other families with adoptions, securing legal adoptions for a total of four children.
The LA County Department of Children and Family Services announced that 200 children in foster care had their adoptions finalized during the celebratory weekend.
Since its inception in 1997, National Adoption Day has seen over 39,000 adoptions being finalized. You can watch a full story on the event covered by CBS Los Angeles here.
MWM plans to help other families in the future – adoptions can be finalized at any time during the year, not just on National Adoption Day. The Alliance has a broader mission than helping with adoptions, and attorneys having an interest potentially could help with other things, for example Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for children with special needs.
