I spent a number of hours on April 25 at the Chances for Children Adoption Festival held at the Cook County Juvenile Court building.
Aware of the controversy relating to this event and believing that I might have a modicum of insight as a child psychiatrist, I decided to personally explore the event.
I must confess to being extraordinarily impressed in every way. I personally observed hundreds of children at all areas of the event. I saw children playing, eating and thoroughly enjoying themselves. At no time did I see any child demeaned, exploited or otherwise discomforted.
One of the most impressive things I saw was the long line of adults waiting to have fingerprints taken as a preliminary step toward adopting a child.
Many plaudits should be extended to the organizers of this event, which was an obviously complex undertaking. Also to be congratulated are the hundreds of volunteers who donated their time, as well as those who donated food, prizes, games and other activities.
Overall Chances for Children was a most remarkable event. I feel very proud to be a citizen of a city, county and state in which such an extraordinarily positive event occurred.
