Cecilia Dowd

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Nov 17, 2023, 6:45 PM

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Updated

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The Suffolk County Family Court held its annual Adoption Day ceremony on Friday, a day before National Adoption Day.

The day raises awareness of the many children across the U.S. in foster care who need permanent homes.

The Suffolk County event was held at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead.

Four families adopted six children. One of them is Declan Brown, who is now a proud member of the Diaz family.

Declan was a foster child with the family at seven years old. He's now nine (or 9 ¾, as he likes to tell people) and officially a member of the family. They live in West Babylon.

Declan calls Mechelle and Marcos Diaz "Mimi" and "Deedee," respectively. He's gained three older siblings, including Salina Diaz, who said she'd always hoped for a younger sibling. She said she finally got her wish. Declan told News 12 he felt "special" because of his "amazing" family and didn't stop smiling throughout the interview. Mechelle Diaz said she grew up in the foster care system and wanted to give back. She said Declan has a very special place in her heart.

"In the court system, we deal with so many tragedies and difficult cases and problems, but today is truly a happy day. The adoptions are probably the best thing that we do," said Hon. Andrew Crecca, Suffolk County District Administrative judge.