SACRAMENTO - Thursday, Sacramentans were gripped by the story of a couple whose baby boy was taken from them by Sacramento County Child Protective Services (CPS).

STORY: Sacramento couple fights to get their baby boy back from authorities 

Anna Nikolayev claimed CPS had taken her 5-month-old son Sammy after she and her husband removed him from the Sutter Memorial Hospital intensive care unit without a proper discharge and before taking him to Kaiser Permanente for a second opinion.

Nikolayev said a CPS social worker told her Sammy was removed from their custody due to "severe neglect," but did not elaborate on the severity of the neglect, nor the specifics behind the decision to take the child. However, CPS did release the following statement:

This is the first annual Courageous Connection Kick Off to National Foster Care Month.

This event will feature an introduction to Courageous Connection and the important work they are doing with current and former foster youth, a City Proclamation presented by Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis supporting local foster youth, special guest speaker Daniel Heimpel, founder of Fostering Media Connections, and the unveiling of a commissioned public art piece representing the lives of the approximately 500 foster youth that live within the Elk Grove Unified School District.

Light appetizers will be served from 3 local businesses as well as a wine bar representing some local wineries.

Where: Elk Grove Events Center
8434 Bradshaw Rd Elk Grove, CA