Arkansas 19-year-old Cozy, who’s been in the foster care system for nearly 15 years, was officially adopted this week by Anna and Tim Dietrich. The teen was the longest-waiting child in the state’s foster system and his adoption was celebrated by dozens of friends and family members. At the ceremony, Anna expressed gratitude for everyone who came out to support Cozy.
The Dietrichs say they felt called to adopt Cozy into their family. “We’re supposed to give him our name, give him our family, give him our whole hearts,” the mom says. As their only child, Cozy has become the “star” of the family, with star-themed clothes, toys, and a necklace marking the occasion.
Anna believes that all foster children deserve a strong support system like Cozy now has, and Tiffany Wright, director of the Division of Children and Family Services, highlighted the adoption as a step toward finding homes for all waiting children, saying, “Even as we celebrate this beautiful day, we must stay focused on the goal of finding homes for other children who need them.”
Source: WTSP