Day 1 Bags Beyond the Bag project transform cold, sterile courtrooms into an amazing, warm, celebratory scene during an Adoption or Reunification event in childrens' courts. Here is a direct testimony - “Sometimes an adoption hearing can be very sterile and cold. Often it’s just a quick proceeding to check the box and make it official. Having Judge Cohoon officiate our adoption in Kendall County was a heartwarming and memorable experience. From her kind words to the special moment allowing my adopted sons to ‘adopt’ their very own stuffed animal, this experience is seared into our family’s  minds and hearts.” - Adoptive Mother.

We fill every courtroom with high quality stuffed animals and dolls. Each child (and we allow siblings too) get to go and "adopt" a juror, with its own decree, and it becomes a keepsake for a child to commemorate the last day of foster care!