While adoptions are common, Michael and Kenya Vandiver made some history earlier this month when they adopted a relative’s 15-month-old son through a Zoom call.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent social distancing measures it brought forth changed the setting of the kinship adoption of Takoda, AKA “Koda Bear,” from a courtroom to behind a screen.
“We’re still following protocols and recommendations through the county and through our agency, and so we thought that it’s best to have the adoption virtually to meet the need of the amount of people that want to celebrate such a beautiful time in this family’s life,” Jennifer Bernal of Buckner Foster Care and Adoption, the agency that aided the Vandivers with becoming parents to Koda Bear, told NewsWest9.
The new parents did not let a public health crisis get in the way of their dream.
It is partially Buckner’s mission to keep adoptees with their biological family, NewsWest9 reported.
“We always try and keep children together with their families, and our permanency goal is reunification," Bernal told the station. " If that’s with biological family or relatives within the family, we always strive to make those needs met.”
Takoda has been part of the Vandivers’ world for as he long as he has been alive. The couple began to care for him when he was infant.
Coronavirus will not stop adoptions from happening, Bernal said.
“We’re not stopping even though we are in a current pandemic,” she told NewsWest9. “There’s plenty of kids that are needing homes, temporary homes, forever homes and so we want to ensure that we have the resources available to those families in the community.”