Alicia and Josh Dougherty have been fostering and adopting children since 2011. With four biological children, and six adopted, their family continues to grow as they open their home to children who need them.
On November 27, 2019, Bree and Patrick were officially adopted and became the newest additions to the Dougherty family, having stability for the first time in their lives.
However, while adoption is often celebrated and regarded as a happy time, that’s not all that it is. The six adopted children were born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder and Prenatal Drug Exposure. “We are elated at a time when these kids are in their deepest moments of despair,” says Alicia, “We should not have to step in because someone else was forced to step out. It’s our job to keep them safe.”
Jordan Dougherty leaps off the couch while his mother Alicia changes baby Harlee’s diaper in their home in Pittsford, N.Y. “This is him already on ADHD medicine. He’s wild.”, said Alicia. Jordan is one of four children that have been adopted by Alicia Dougherty and her husband Josh through foster care. Jordan came into the home with his twin brother, Jason, when they were ten months old.
Alicia Dougherty reads Knuffle Bunny, a book about friendship, to six of her ten children in the car. Two of the children have piano lessons on Tuesday nights, so Alicia packs up the family into the family 15-seater and waits in the driveway during their 45 minute sessions. “I don’t know how some people do it without iPads. I have to find all kinds of ways to keep them occupied,” says Alicia.
Patrick slides down a slide while playing on the playground outside of Edgewood Methodist Church on Sunday, November 24, 2019. Patrick is a foster child of the Dougherty family, who attend church at Edgewood. Patrick is one of two children who will be adopted by the Dougherty family on November 27, after living with them since the summer.
Bree puts her toothbrush back in a cup after getting ready to leave on the morning of her adoption.
Josh Dougherty brushes his sons hair while the kids watch tv before leaving their home in Pittsford, New York, to get to the court where his ninth and tenth children will be adopted.
Alicia Dougherty keeps her family on a tight schedule, to ensure that all twelve family members are leaving on time and getting where they need to be.
The family splits into two vehicles, Alicia driving one and Josh driving another, and depart for the courthouse at exactly 9:45 am.
A handicap parking pass hangs from the rearview mirror of the 15-person van Alicia uses to transport her children. With the many disabilities that the children have, it is much safer to park the vehicle as close to building entryways as possible to prevent parking lot meltdowns and accidents from occurring.
Josh Dougherty holds the door open as his children file into the Wyoming County Courthouse in Warsaw, New York.
Alex, the eldest of the Dougherty children, plays with Harlee, the youngest, as the middle children bird watch while awaiting the arrival of the judge for Bree and Patrick’s adoption hearing.
Hon. Michael Mohun greets the children as they enter his courtroom for Bree and Patrick's adoption.
As the court clerk reads the adoption certificate aloud on November 27, 2019, Josh and his son smile upon hearing that he is now officially Patrick Dougherty.
“I’m finally a Dougherty!” exclaims eight-year-old Bree after her parent sign her adoption papers at the Wyoming County Courthouse on the morning of November 27, 2019.
The boys of the Dougherty family play with stuffed bears gifted to them by Hon. Michael Mohun, Judge of the Wyoming County Court in Warsaw, N.Y.
Bree and her sister Zoey look at her Certificate of Adoption, which states that she is the legal child of Alicia and Josh Dougherty. After her official adoption on November 27, 2019, her name legally changed from the name given to her by her birth parents, Bella, to the name she and her adoptive mother picked: Bree Cindra Summer Dougherty.