Four families welcome new members during National Adoption Day in Pueblo

A foster mom who once made a poignant pledge to her dying mother took her promise to be a voice for children to a new level Friday as she adopted her third child during National Adoption Day in Pueblo district court.

Sarah Voigts welcomed 16-month old Kayde Reese into her family with her first two adopted children — 8-year-old Konner and 6-year-old Kayliana — by her side. Decked out in matching "O-fish-ally Ours" T-shirts, the family reveled in the National Adoption Day ceremony which was "a big celebration of our family coming together," Voigts said.

The Sloan family of Pueblo officially made Maddoux, 7, a part of their clan Friday as well, marking the third generation of their family to participate in the loving act of adoption. Maddoux joined his mom Kayleigh, dad Dillon and 10-year-old sister Gracie in celebrating the milestone.

They were all wearing matching shirts that read, "Get out of my way it's adoption day."

The Voigts and Sloan families were among four families that participated in National Adoption Day in Pueblo Friday with Chief Judge Gregory Styduhar presiding over the court hearings.

"This is the formal recognition of the dedicated work of a number of individuals, a celebration of those individuals working toward the well-being of a child and one of the most sacrificial acts of love you can find," Styduhar said. "The court is privileged to be a part of the celebration because the cases we see day in and day out can bring a heavy heart but our heavy hearts are filled with joy today."

'We couldn't let him go': The Sloan family story

When the Sloan family followed in Kayleigh's parents' and grandparents' footsteps two years ago, they agreed to take in Maddoux, then 5, who had been through six foster homes in six months.

"He had suffered a lot of trauma and abuse and was the subject of five different (court) cases of abuse and neglect. Right when we got him he got some new toys and he broke all of them in a fit of rage," Kayleigh Sloan recalled.

The family slowly helped Maddoux heal by sharing plenty of love and patience.

"We didn't plan to adopt. We were just going to do short-term emergency respite but we couldn't let him go," she said.

The family celebrated the adoption with a trip to Maddoux's favorite restaurant, Golden Corral.

'I promised to give kids voices': Voigts' pledge to her mom

Voigts couldn't help but think her late mom, Yoko Voigts, would be especially pleased Friday.

"My mom was in foster care and did not have a very good experience. Before she passed in 2004, I promised to give kids voices that didn't have them," she recalled.

Because Yoko Voigts ran a daycare, her daughter was around lots of children growing up. Today, Voigts still is referred to as "Auntie RaRa" by many of those daycare children who shared her parents in their honorary roles as "Mama Yoko" and "Daddy John" Voigts, whose real job was working as a Colorado State Patrol trooper.

"I don't know a life without kids," Voigts said.

For 21 years, Voigts has served as a foster parent. As a single mom and a school counselor at La Junta Intermediate School, she is thinking Kayde may well be the last child she adopts.

"It has been a really great way to grow a family. I love helping the community and offering a safe place for the kids to go so they can have a normalized childhood," she explained.

Kids Crossing helps those in foster care

Voigts has served as a foster parent through Kids Crossing, a foster care service organization based in Colorado Springs with an office in Pueblo that not only matches children with foster parents but also offers support services like access to therapists.

"Sarah is a wonderful woman and we are very honored to have someone like her adopt three amazing kids," Myra Pacheco, a lead home coordinator for Kids Crossing, said of Voigts. "She has been flexible and willing to offer a stable and secure home."

Pacheco said there is a dire need for foster parents, especially in rural areas. Kids Crossing works with foster parents who represent diverse backgrounds and are married or single.

To learn more about foster parenting through Kids Crossing, visit kidscrossing.com. The Kids Crossing Pueblo office can be reached at 719-545-3882.

More on foster parenting: 'There to be a bridge': Pueblo foster mom goes 'above and beyond' to reunite one family

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: 4 Colorado families adopt children during National Adoption Day in Pueblo