Permanency Story

In 2016, Brian and Elena McCallum came to Stanford Sierra Youth & Families because they were interested in growing their family through adoption. They had three children of their own (ages 6, 5, and 3) and one on the way, but they felt strongly about expanding their family to include a child who’d been less fortunate. Stanford Sierra helped the McCallums through the approval process and provided training and education to prepare them for their adoption journey.

In the summer of 2018, baby Sophia began her life being placed into foster care for her own safety. Her mother had used heroin during the pregnancy, and Sophia was born with drugs in her system. Five days later, the McCallums went to the hospital and returned home with Sophia. The McCallums agreed to be a resource family to her, to provide her with a loving, stable home.

At one point, an aunt of Sophia’s came forward, wanting the baby to be placed with her. Stanford Sierra worked with everyone involved to find a solution that worked best for the child. When the aunt saw how Sophia was thriving with the McCallums, she concluded that her niece was best served staying where she was. Through it all, the McCallums have remained open to involving Sophia’s birth family in her life.

In 2019, the McCallum’s adoption of Sophia was finalized. She has two loving parents in Brian and Elena and four siblings who love her too. They are a big, happy family of seven. Sophia’s birth mother has achieved sobriety and is now a part of Sophia’s life as well. People who meet Sophia often remark that she is the happiest baby they’ve ever known.