November is National Adoption Awareness Month. All adoption issues are important, but the main focus of this November is the adoption of children in foster care.
Locally, AGAPE Southern Tier-Finger Lakes offers various free services and resources to adoptive families. One of the adoptive family’s that AGAPE supports in their post-adoption phase of life are the Aguilar-Pacheco’s.
Jacob Aguilar-Pacheco and his brother Joseph were adopted about six years ago. Their fathers said it was a long, challenging process, but it changed all their lives for the better. After fostering them for two years, they were then allowed to adopt the brothers – creating their forever family.
“It was an emotional struggle because, with a foster-adopt system, you never know if you’re going to get your kids or not. But we are very grateful. I can tell you a long story about all that, but very grateful that eventually, we were able to adopt them,” says Dr. Hector Aguilar-Pacheco, one of the boys’ adoptive fathers.
“I am a scientist and I guess I have some accomplishments as a scientist. I always like to say that there’s nothing I feel more successful at or that makes me most proud, but I feel most rewarded for adopting Joseph and Jacob.”
Co-parent Armando Pacheco says becoming a father is something he thought would never happen for him until he learned about the foster-adopt program.
“I never thought I could be a father. And therefore, when we look into the foster system, that creates an opportunity and hope,” said Pacheco.
“Ahead of us is a challenge, but with love, we can manage.” adds Dr. Pacheco.
If you want to become a foster parent, or you are a foster or adoptive family now, you can visit the New York State website or the AGAPE CNY/Southern Tier website more more information and support sources.
