WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) has selected Jason and Carri Kern of Wentzville, Mo. as 2014 “Angels in Adoption” awardees for their outstanding advocacy of adoption and foster care issues. This week, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Angels in Adoption program honored the Kerns and other families in Washington, D.C. Blunt met with the Kern family today in his Washington, D.C. office.
“Jason and Carri Kern have dedicated their lives to caring for and providing a loving home for children in need – overcoming unfathomable setbacks in their seven-year quest to bring their son, Hudson, home from Guatemala,” said Blunt. “Hudson has an incredible story and I’m glad to recognize Jason and Carri Kern as Angels in Adoption for their efforts to raise awareness about the challenges facing the adoption and foster care systems.”
Jason and Carri Kern first began their adoption journey in 2006 when they became licensed foster parents in the state of Missouri. In 2007, they began to pursue an international adoption in Guatemala and were matched with Hudson in the fall of that year. In 2008, Guatemala halted adoptions as the country began trying to reform their system. As a result, a large number of cases were caught in the pipeline.
In 2010, as they waited for Hudson’s case to process, they agreed to foster a pair of siblings. The Kerns quickly fell in love and decided to pursue adopting the siblings and their other sister. In February 2013, Jason and Carri officially adopted Trenton, Tatum and Tia.
Meanwhile, Hudson’s case continued to drag on with countless court hearings. During this process, the Kerns traveled to Guatemala 27 times to make sure Hudson knew he had a loving family fighting to bring him to the United States. Blunt sent a number of letters and attended meetings with Guatemalan officials urging movement of Hudson’s case.
On July 25, 2014, Hudson was able to join his forever home after seven years of waiting. Hudson is home because of his parents’ unshakeable faith and unbelievable determination. The family now has four adopted children: Hudson (age 7), Trenton (age 7), Tatum (age 6) and Tia (age 4). For more information on the their story, please click here.