After 16 wonderful years of marriage, professional musicians Robert and Carley Vann had no plans to have children. In August 2020, Robert’s biggest problem was trying to figure out how to run an orchestra program during a pandemic, when a phone call from his father changed their lives.
“We decided early in our marriage that kids weren’t in our future,” said Robert. “Sometimes the universe has other plans”
Robert’s days-old niece needed a temporary home. After a long conversation with his wife and emergency approval from Child Protective Services, Robert and Carley welcomed 11-day-old Millie into their home.
Not long after welcoming Millie into their home, Robert and Carley once again received a call from CPS; Millie’s half-brother also needed a temporary home. Needing some time to adjust to parenthood, the Vanns declined.
“We were still working on establishing a routine with Millie,” said Robert. “When we received the call about her brother Lucas, it wasn’t no, just a not right now”
With a few months of parenting under their belts and a solid routine established, Carley and Robert once again opened their home to a child. In November 2020, Millie’s four-year-old brother Lucas joined the family. While providing a home for Millie and Lucas was intended to be temporary, Robert and Carley legally adopted the siblings in September 2022.
“Though unexpected, becoming parents to Millie and Lucas has been a beautiful journey and an adventure beyond our wildest dreams,” says Robert.
The Vann family illustrates why Sacramento County and local foster-adoptive agencies celebrate National Adoption Month, held every November to raise awareness about the need for adoptive families.
According to federal statistics, more than 122,000 children and youth are waiting to be adopted and are at risk of aging out of foster care without a permanent family. In Sacramento County, at least 224 children and teens are awaiting their forever families.
Sacramento County joins community organizations Stanford Sierra Youth as well as A Better Life Children’s Services, the California Alliance of Child and Family Service, the California Department of Social Services, Koinonia Family Services and Uplift Family Services in supporting National Adoption Month.
