Rep. Mike Thompson Presents Judge Raymond Guadagni with Angels In Adoption Award
October 4, 2011
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today presented Judge Raymond Guadagni with the Angels in Adoption Pin and Certificate for his outstanding advocacy of adoption and foster care. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), which orchestrates the Angels in Adoption program, honored more than 190 Angels at their annual gala. The Angels in Adoption program is CCAI's signature public awareness campaign and provides an opportunity for Members of Congress to honor the good work of their constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans in the United States and abroad.
“Judge Raymond Guadagni has been instrumental in enriching so many families in Napa County though his work on the bench approving adoptions,” said Thompson. “He is part of the families he brings together, baking a cake for every adoption he finalizes. I still remember when my family was given a cake from Justice Guadagni when my niece was adopted into our family. There is no one more deserving of the Angels in Adoption award, and I am honored to have the opportunity to present him with it.”
Ray Guadagni was a Napa County Commissioner from 1995 - 2001. During that time, he was overseeing dependency court. It was during this time that he demonstrated his care regarding foster youth. He started a number of programs to assist in their reunification with family and, if that didn't work, he terminated parental rights and granted adoptions. He started Peer Court, Juvenile Drug Court, SARMS (a substance abuse court program for parents in the dependency process), and attended all the foster care Christmas parties, dressing up as Santa Claus to give out presents to all the children.
In 2001, he became a Superior Court Judge; however, this didn't stop his interest in working with foster youth. He started a book club at Chamberlain High School, a probation high school, and communicated with the youth through emails to discuss books. He attended many of their functions. But Ray really demonstrated his care through each adoption. Ray turned each one into a special event for the family, baking a cake for the after-court festivities and giving each adoptee a teddy bear. In addition, he created a "sibling agreement,” suitable for framing, whereby the sibling promises to love and care for the newest member of the family. Even though Ray no longer sits on the juvenile calendar, he still shows an interest in youth and continues to preside over most of the adoptions, cake and teddy bears included.
Most recently, he started a program for foster youth as they are ready to leave the system. It is a program that gives youth information about college and vocational programs, and helps them see that it is possible to continue their education. He brought together child welfare services, probation, Napa Valley College, VOICES and education to make this possible. It is now in its third year.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
“Judge Raymond Guadagni has been instrumental in enriching so many families in Napa County though his work on the bench approving adoptions,” said Thompson. “He is part of the families he brings together, baking a cake for every adoption he finalizes. I still remember when my family was given a cake from Justice Guadagni when my niece was adopted into our family. There is no one more deserving of the Angels in Adoption award, and I am honored to have the opportunity to present him with it.”
Ray Guadagni was a Napa County Commissioner from 1995 - 2001. During that time, he was overseeing dependency court. It was during this time that he demonstrated his care regarding foster youth. He started a number of programs to assist in their reunification with family and, if that didn't work, he terminated parental rights and granted adoptions. He started Peer Court, Juvenile Drug Court, SARMS (a substance abuse court program for parents in the dependency process), and attended all the foster care Christmas parties, dressing up as Santa Claus to give out presents to all the children.
In 2001, he became a Superior Court Judge; however, this didn't stop his interest in working with foster youth. He started a book club at Chamberlain High School, a probation high school, and communicated with the youth through emails to discuss books. He attended many of their functions. But Ray really demonstrated his care through each adoption. Ray turned each one into a special event for the family, baking a cake for the after-court festivities and giving each adoptee a teddy bear. In addition, he created a "sibling agreement,” suitable for framing, whereby the sibling promises to love and care for the newest member of the family. Even though Ray no longer sits on the juvenile calendar, he still shows an interest in youth and continues to preside over most of the adoptions, cake and teddy bears included.
Most recently, he started a program for foster youth as they are ready to leave the system. It is a program that gives youth information about college and vocational programs, and helps them see that it is possible to continue their education. He brought together child welfare services, probation, Napa Valley College, VOICES and education to make this possible. It is now in its third year.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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