A Royal Celebration of Permanency
By Lynn Burnside, CMFCAA Adoption Program Manager
Every child deserves to know that they are important, valued, and worthy of celebration. On September 12, 2026, Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association (CMFCAA) had the privilege of doing just that.
At Camden on the Lake, children and families gathered for a very special Royal Celebration honoring children who had achieved permanency after previously experiencing foster care or kinship care without a permanent family connection. For these children and families, permanency represents more than a change in legal status—it represents belonging, connection, security, and the opportunity to move forward together as a family.
The Royal Celebration was the result of a year of planning and collaboration among four CMFCAA programs: Advocacy, Extreme Family Finding (EFF), Kinship, and 30 Days to Family. Each program brings a unique perspective and set of resources to children and families, but they came together around one shared purpose: to celebrate families and the successes they worked so hard to achieve.
Every Child Was Royal
The theme of the celebration was simple: every child is royalty.
Children were invited to dress as the princes and princesses they are, while CMFCAA staff joined in the celebration by dressing as kings, queens, and princesses. This was more than a fun theme. It was an intentional way to communicate to each child that they mattered and that their story was worth celebrating.
Throughout the morning, children were able to create their own royal treasures. Activities included making shields, decorating treasure boxes, designing crowns, and creating capes. Families also participated in games and activities such as archery and dragon jousting.
But perhaps the most meaningful part of the day was watching families simply enjoy being together.
Parents participated alongside their children, helping with crafts, playing games, and encouraging their children throughout the celebration. Families also interacted with and encouraged other families, creating an atmosphere where parents and children could connect with people who understood parts of their journey.
CMFCAA staff were not simply event organizers. They became part of the celebration. Staff played games with the children, helped with crafts, interacted with parents, and served food. By participating alongside the families, staff helped create an environment where families could feel welcomed, valued, and celebrated.
Creating a Community of Belonging
One of the most powerful outcomes of the Royal Celebration was the response from the children.
Families shared that each child felt as though the party had been held just for them. Children reported having a wonderful time and were already asking when the next celebration would take place.
Those comments capture something incredibly important.
For children who have experienced foster care, kinship care, uncertainty, and changes in family relationships, being intentionally celebrated can carry tremendous meaning. A celebration like this provides an opportunity for children to experience something they may not always have had: a room full of people recognizing their accomplishments and telling them, through words and actions, “Your family matters. Your journey matters. You matter.”
The celebration also demonstrated the importance of building communities for families after permanency is achieved.
Permanency is a tremendous accomplishment, but it does not mean that families no longer need support, encouragement, or connection. Families benefit from having opportunities to meet others who have experienced similar journeys, celebrate milestones together, share encouragement, and build relationships that can continue beyond a single event.
Celebrating Success Together
At CMFCAA, our work is centered around helping children and families navigate difficult circumstances and move toward stronger, more permanent family relationships. The Royal Celebration gave us an opportunity to pause from the day-to-day work and celebrate what families had accomplished.
The event reminded us that success deserves to be celebrated.
Too often, the focus surrounding foster care and child welfare is placed on crisis, challenges, and the things that still need to be accomplished. Those things are important, but families also deserve moments where the focus is on what they have achieved.
They deserve to celebrate the child who found permanency.
They deserve to celebrate the parent who continued to show up.
They deserve to celebrate the family connections that were rebuilt.
They deserve to celebrate the journey from uncertainty to belonging.
And they deserve to celebrate together.
The Royal Celebration was made possible because four CMFCAA programs worked together toward a common goal. Advocacy, Extreme Family Finding, Kinship, and 30 Days to Family each played a role in creating an experience that centered families and their successes.
Looking Toward the Future
The Royal Celebration was more than a single day of crafts, games, costumes, and food. It was an opportunity to build community and remind families that they are not alone after permanency.
The hope is that celebrations like this can become part of a larger culture of encouragement—one where families have opportunities to celebrate their accomplishments, develop relationships with other families, and continue building a network of support.
Because permanency is not the end of a family’s story.
It is the beginning of a new chapter.
And every new chapter deserves to be celebrated.
CMFCAA is honored to have celebrated these royal families and to have witnessed the joy, connection, and pride that filled the room. We look forward to continuing to create opportunities where children and families can come together, encourage one another, and celebrate the successes that make all of the hard work worthwhile.
Every child deserves a family. Every family deserves support. And every success deserves a celebration.
