SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Elizabeth Julian and her husband, Damien, took legal guardianship of their niece and nephew about ten years ago after the children were living in neglect and instability. What started as temporary help became permanent when reunification was no longer an option.
Now the children, Sunnie and Beau, are teenagers and want to be fully adopted.
“If you are to adopt through foster care, everything is covered,” said Elizabeth Julian, their aunt and guardian. “Court fees, court costs, all of that is absolutely covered. At the time, we very well could have allowed Sonny and Bo to go into the foster care system. Maybe if I had called CPS instead of just offering my home, then they would have went into foster care, but I just knew that I didn’t want them to go into the system.”
The pandemic and the recent passing of Elizabeth’s father prevented the couple from adopting Sunnie and Beau sooner. Recently, their biological mother filed for visitation, and active litigation against it has quadrupled the family’s legal expenses.
“I didn’t really want to see her because we don’t really know each other a lot and I feel like I’d be uncomfortable there,” said Sunnie. “She’s kind of like a stranger to me.”
“I’m proud of myself that I lasted this long to get here,” said Beau. “It’s just been, like, a long process. Just want it to be done.”
Elizabeth and Damien have three biological children of their own but say they’ve always seen Sunnie and Beau as theirs too.
“To see their progress to where they are now from even honestly, even five, six years ago probably, it has changed immensely,” said Damien Julian. “They’re both thriving in school.
Elizabeth and Damien said they will continue to save money and fight for the adoption process to happen, no matter how long it may take. They set up a GoFundMe for anyone in the community interested in supporting the family with the ongoing costs.
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