Home run: Judge, on pitcher's mound, unites 12 children, 10 families in adoption event

Wayne Price
·2 min read

With the tap of a gavel and a judge’s decree, 10 Brevard County families grew a bit bigger Monday.

The 10 families formally adopted 12 children at a unique ceremony at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Viera. The event was special, as most adoptions are, because it also helped note November as being National Adoption Awareness Month.

Chekinaa Turner adopted 2-year-old Josiah Charles during a "Celebration of Adoption" at the USSSA Space Coast Complex stadium Monday. Brevard Family Partnership, DCF, Camelot Community Care and other agencies took part in the special day for 10 families adopting 12 children. (Credit: TIM SHORTT / FLORIDA TODAY)..
Chekinaa Turner adopted 2-year-old Josiah Charles during a "Celebration of Adoption" at the USSSA Space Coast Complex stadium Monday. Brevard Family Partnership, DCF, Camelot Community Care and other agencies took part in the special day for 10 families adopting 12 children. (Credit: TIM SHORTT / FLORIDA TODAY)..

Families stood at “home plate” on the field while local officials, families and supporters and others sat in the stands. Judge Kelly J. McKibben of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court (Brevard and Seminole counties) conducted the adoption hearings from the pitcher’s mound.

Probably putting the celebration in the best context was Chekinaa Turner, who was adopting 2-year-old Josiah.

More: Home run: 10 families adopt 12 children in a very special ceremony on a sports field in Viera

When asked if she promised to always love and care for Josiah, his new mother said: “Until my last breath.”

Brevard Family Partnership was the event’s main organizer. Also collaborating were Camelot Community Care, Family Allies, and Florida Guardian Ad Litem.

More: Celebration of Adoption Ceremony in Viera

For its part, Brevard Family Partnership has helped arrange 720 adoptions in the last five years, a process that often begins in a foster-family setting that transitions into adoption.

“I’d like to start out by letting the families and the children to be united through adoption, to hear us as a community, cheer them on as a reflection of our love support and hope for happiness for their growing loving families,” said Phil Scarpelli, president and CEO of Brevard Family Partnership.

Mother and son now: Josiah Carles Turner, age 2, holds hands with his mom, Chekinaa Turner. The two were united as family during a "Celebration of Adoption" at the USSSA Space Coast Complex stadium. Judge Kelly McKibben conducted the ceremony, during which 10 families adopted 12 children.
Mother and son now: Josiah Carles Turner, age 2, holds hands with his mom, Chekinaa Turner. The two were united as family during a "Celebration of Adoption" at the USSSA Space Coast Complex stadium. Judge Kelly McKibben conducted the ceremony, during which 10 families adopted 12 children.

Also on hand for the event was Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris.

Harris’ agency reports that 4,000 Florida children were adopted last year.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to our adopting families, who have answered the call,” Harris said to applause, "and in doing so are both giving and receiving life’s greatest gift: parenthood.”

Wayne Price is director of communications for the Space Coast Health Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Grand slam: Adoption event on sports field unites 10 famiies, 12 kids