By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Years ago, Martin Hayes never imagined he would fill roles as a foster parent and an adoptive parent to multiple children.

“I don’t know what else I could have done to bring so much happiness into my life,” Hayes said to a packed room of people at a National Adoption Celebration at the Shelby County Department of Human Resources on Nov. 20. “I look back on my life, and I never thought I’d be doing this, but I thank God that I am.”

Hayes and his wife have been foster parents in Shelby County for several years, according to Jennifer Neumann, one of two attorneys for Shelby County DHR, who served as master of ceremonies for the celebration.

The couple has fostered 42 children and adopted five out of foster care in the county.

“They’ve been extremely supportive of our foster children,” Neumann said.

Hayes and his wife adopted two children Nov. 13 and now have nine children living at their home.

“We have truly been blessed,” he said. “It’s a blessing that nobody else can bring. What I have found with the children I adopt that makes it so great … is you reach the place where it seems like they’re yours.”

Hayes was among several people, including adoptive parents and children, local officials and DHR employees, who spoke during the celebration, an annual event held in November to recognize the families created through adoption.

Rebecca Campbell-Ledbetter, 16, was adopted out of foster care by her new family on Sept. 23.

Campbell-Ledbetter is in honors choir, plays volleyball, is involved in church and outreach projects and has plans to attend the University of South Alabama for education.

“I’m finally able to feel like I officially belong somewhere,” she said of her adoption. “I finally found the normal I’d been wanting. I’ve finally found my hope, and my future, and so much more.”

Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Jim Kramer has been a juvenile court judge since 2004 and makes initial determinations regarding whether children should go home or stay in foster care.

“I don’t get to see the cases all the way through,” Kramer said. “Unfortunately, it does not always work out that they can go home.”

Kramer said he tries to look at everything in court “through the eyes of a child,” from where they will go next to how much time their cases will spend in the court system.

“We’ve got to make sure we do it right,” he said. “I love what I’m doing. I feel like we’re making a difference, and it’s positive.”

Twenty-four children were adopted by their foster families this year, according to Shelby County DHR Director Kim Mashego.

“This is to celebrate with them,” Mashego said of the Nov. 20 event.

This year’s theme was “Every Heart Needs a Home.”

Mashego said Shelby County Probate Judge Jim Fuhrmeister held an adoption day Nov. 13 and created a special docket to hear adoptions.

“He just makes it a very special day for the children,” she said.

Mashego said seven children in Shelby County are awaiting adoption.

“We still have children in foster care who are available for adoption and don’t have a permanent family,” she said.

Rev. Douglas Vu with the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama shared passages from the Bible related to themes of family and public service.

“Families are so good. A happy, healthy, holy family is always good for society,” Vu said. “Let’s be people of joy, people of hope, people of reconciliation.”

Vu commended Shelby County DHR and others who support the organization’s efforts to find homes for children.

“Those of you in profession protect the common good,” Vu said. “Our love for God always draws some goodness out of darkness. You are helping society manage the gift of life.”

At the end of the program, Sherry Whitehead with DHR read the names of the seven children waiting to be adopted.

“We are here to help you as families and to help the department, and we do it with a sense of urgency,” Leslie Hales with APAC told the group. “Let’s continue to do more. Every child deserves a forever family.”