Joel, 11, front row left, celebrates his adoption with his mother, Geneva Simmons, and brothers, from left, back row, Israel,15; Ezekiel, 13, and Jason, 16. At bottom right is Jayzon, Ms. Simmons’ grandson.
Joel celebrates his adoption
The day Joel, 11, was scheduled to be adopted, there was a snowstorm and the court date had to be postponed.
“He understood that it would still happen, but he was kind of worried,” explained Geneva Simmons, his adoptive mother. “It was like a setback. He’s had so many losses in his life. He wanted to make sure he was going to be by his brothers.”
The skies cleared and on Feb. 4 it became official: Joel is now the youngest of four adopted sons of Ms. Simmons.
Joel is happy about the adoption because “I get to stay with her forever,” he said.
Joel came to live with Ms. Simmons about two years ago as a foster child with Global Village Therapeutic Foster Care.
“I felt kind of nervous when I first came to the house,” he said, but what helped him feel at home were the boys who became his brothers: Jason, now 16; Israel, 15, and Ezekiel, 13.
“I love them,” Joel said.
Being adopted lets Joel know “he’s a ‘forever child’ now,” Ms. Simmons said. “He doesn’t have to worry any more about being moved from placement to placement.”
Finding permanent homes for children is the priority of Global Village, and a goal that Ms. Simmons shares.
“I don’t like the revolving door,” she said. “It traumatizes them to move them from place to place.”
Ms. Simmons didn’t expect to adopt when she became a foster parent. Many youth are in foster care only until they can return to their birth families. Some, however, need a new permanent home. That was the case with Jason. Since they had become attached, she decided his home should be with her. She then adopted Israel and Ezekiel, and now Joel. She also has three grown birth children.
“Joel has a lot of love and a lot of family,” Ms. Simmons said. “He’s a joy.”
