This week Buffalo's Child and Family Services took on cases from the nearly defunct Catholic Charities adoption program. 

The switch coincidentally happened at the start of Adoption Awareness month. 

"During the last two months we've worked with Catholic Charities to ensure a seemless transition," said Elizabeth McPartland, chief operating officer for Child and Family Services. 

Nine case workers, 24 children and their families are now in the care of the not-for-profit private family service. 

In August, Catholic Charities announced that it would discontinue its 95-year-old adoption and foster care program. 

The faith-based agency said that serving same-sex couples presented a moral and legal conflict. 

Many opposed Catholic Charities' decision including nearly 100 employees, who sent a letter to Bishop Richard Malone, asking him to reconsider. 

​Catholic Charities' contract with the state will officially end in March 2019.