(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — Cozy, age 19, has been in foster care waiting to find a family for nearly 15 years.

That wait finally came to an end this morning. 

In a hearing at Pulaski County Juvenile Court, Circuit Judge Tjuana Byrd Manning formally finalized Cozy’s adoption by Tim and Anna Dietrich of Little Rock. Cozy has been in foster care since October 2010, and was the longest waiting child in the Arkansas foster care system before the adoption was finalized this morning. 

[PHOTOS/VIDEO: Photos, b-roll, and interview clips from the hearing today are available for media by clicking here.]

“It is days like these that I love being the Governor of Arkansas most,” said Governor Sanders. “I am incredibly grateful to the hardworking people at Project Zero, our state agencies, and other key organizations for working together to find Cozy a safe, loving family. I hope that Cozy’s story is an inspiration to every child waiting to be adopted, and I wish the Dietrich family well as they embark on this new journey as a family of three.”

Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Janet Mann and Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Tiffany Wright were both on hand to watch the hearing in person, and to celebrate with Cozy’s new family.

“Today is an inspiring example of how every child deserves a family,” Mann said. “I am so proud of the work by our teams within DCFS and our Office of Chief Counsel and our partners like Project Zero who work tirelessly to make days like this possible. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing a child who needs a family find one, and I am so happy for Cozy, Tim, and Anna.”

Cozy became the longest waiting child in the Arkansas foster care system last November, when José was adopted after nearly 17 years. 

“This is a special day for Cozy and his new family, and also a special day to recognize the efforts that go into finding permanency for children in foster care,” Wright said. “Youth who enter care often have endured traumas or have medical conditions that make finding a family difficult. But we don’t give up. We work to identify an appropriate family that can provide for the child in the long-term and always strive for days like this.”

While Cozy faces some challenges, he is known for his warm smile and “heart full of determination,” as his Heart Gallery biography notes. He enjoys going for walks and has some foods he’s especially fond of, like noodles, pizza, and soda. 

Anna Dietrich has extensive experience with the foster and adoption care systems through her work at Project Zero, where she serves as logistics coordinator. The organization works to find forever families for kids in foster care who are waiting with its name referencing its overall goal: reducing the number of children in need of an adoptive family to zero.

“I know firsthand what it means to see a child find a family, and we are so excited to be making Cozy a part of ours,” Anna Dietrich said. “We have known Cozy for years through my work at Project Zero, and it became clear after praying over this decision that we were meant to be together. It’s incredibly exciting to be growing our family while at the same time moving one step closer to zero.” 

Project Zero features the Arkansas Heart Gallery on its website, where photos and biographical information about children in foster care who are available for adoption are posted. You can see the gallery and learn more about the process to adopt by visiting TheProjectZero.org, or the DCFS website linked at humanservices.arkansas.gov.