Overview
- A Volusia County family court approved the adoption of 11-year-old Jaden by Jackie Coombe and changed his name to Jaden Andrew Coombe, with Judge Joan Anthony presiding.
- Coombe first met Jaden in October 2023 while serving as a substitute teacher and taught his class for the rest of that school year, forming a sustained bond.
- She learned Jaden was in foster care in spring 2024, and when he became available for adoption in May 2025 she completed paperwork, background checks, and expanded supervised visits that led to full custody.
- Reporters noted the family-court proceedings are usually private but were opened for this moment, and local outlets WESH and WJCL provided on-the-ground coverage of the hearing and family reaction.
- The case is one confirmed permanency outcome in Florida, which the Department of Children and Families says had more than 15,000 children in foster care last year, underscoring the scale of need beyond this single adoption.