[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5832-S5833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ANGELS IN ADOPTION

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, as a member of the Congressional 
Coalition on Adoption Institute, I have the honor and privilege each 
year to recognize a West Virginia family for efforts to promote 
adoption. This is an exceptional program that highlights how policies 
and programs can change a child's life. In 1997, I worked on the 
bipartisan Adoption and Safe Families Act which sought to increase 
adoptions and improve foster care. Much work remains, but real progress 
has been made in encouraging adoptions.
  While policy can help, the real angels are the families who open 
their hearts and homes to vulnerable children. There are many wonderful 
stories but in 2011 I have nominated Nick and Jorun Picciano as Angels 
in Adoption.
  These caring parents already have teenage children, and they have 
incredibly hectic, fulfilling lives as paramedics. But they noticed 
that some of the children they met on the job were victims of abuse or 
neglect. As paramedics, they sadly saw a parent who was more interested 
in returning to a party than taking care of her burned child. According 
to their story, this was a turning point for them. They sought 
information about foster parenting, and they worked to find a program 
that would accommodate their challenging schedules.
  Nick and Jorun were approved and welcomed a toddler into their home 
in 2009. They honestly admitted it had been a long time since they had 
cared for such a young child, and he already had challenging problems 
of nightmares, being separated from his siblings, and recovering from 
contact with his biological parents. This 3-year-old had already been 
placed in four different homes. But kindness, patience and love make a 
huge difference.
  In 2011, after his parents decided to voluntarily relinquish their 
parental rights, the Picciano family was able to adopt their son, 
Joshua Nicholas Picciano. Joshua joins his older siblings, Jacob Hively 
who is 16, Michaela Hively who is 14, Jacynda Hively who is 13, and 
Lucia Picciano who is 13. And

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this extraordinary family continues to welcome vulnerable children 
including two foster girls, ages 7 and 9, into their hearts and home. 
This is a special family, and they deserve our admiration.
  I believe their willingness to see the tragedy of abuse and neglect 
in their challenging work as paramedics and their decision to make a 
personal difference by opening their own home and family to vulnerable 
children is a remarkable, inspiring story that has earned them the 
distinction of Angels in Adoption.

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