State of New Jersey | Department of Children and Families | November 13, 2007 - DCF Plans 200 Adoptions to Commemorate National Adoption Month

For Immediate Release:	CONTACT: 609-633-8507
November 13, 2007	Andy Williams Kate Bernyk

** MEDIA ADVISORY **

DCF Plans 200 Adoptions to Commemorate National Adoption Month

The Department of Children and Families will celebrate National Adoption Month this week by participating in nine events to honor adoptive families and finalize adoptions of 200 children currently in foster care. A 10th event, in Middlesex County, will be held later in the month.

This week's events, stretching from Salem County to Hudson County, will be held over a three-day period, culminating on Saturday, November 17, with the state's largest National Adoption Day celebration held annually in Newark.

DCF's Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), the state's largest adoption agency, expects to have 200 adoptions ready to be finalized during this week's events, and approximately another dozen adoptions for the Middlesex County event on Tuesday, November 27. These adoptions will help DCF reach its target goal of 1400 adoptions by the end of this calendar year.

A complete list of the scheduled events is attached. Adoption court hearings are closed to the press, but family celebrations and other events following the court hearings may be open to the media and the general public.

Reporters or photographers interested in covering one of these events or being connected with an adoptive family in their area should call the DCF Press Office, 609-633-8507, for further information.

National Adoption Day was initiated in 2000 by the Alliance for Children's Rights, with support from organizations including the Freddie Mac Foundation and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

For more information on adoption, call 1-800-NJ ADOPT (992-3678) or visit the DYFS adoption Web site at www.njadopt.org.

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Thursday, November 15, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Thursday, November 15, 2007

9 a.m. - Ocean County Courthouse, 118 Washington St., Toms River
Court hearings will begin to finalize adoptions of 27 children in foster care and a number of children who are being adopted privately.
Following the court hearings, the new families and guests will go to the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River, for family photos, a brunch and various activities. The children will receive age-appropriate books and other gifts from a local sorority, the Family Court judges, and DYFS.

1:30 p.m. - Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument Park, Freehold
Adoptions for more than a dozen children, including 11 in foster care, will be finalized.
Following the court hearings, the families and guests will attend a luncheon and reception in the Jury Assembly Room. Sponsors of the day's activities include DYFS, the Judiciary, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Monmouth Cares, the state Division of Law, and the Monmouth County government.

Friday, November 16, 2007

9 a.m. - Cumberland County Courthouse, Broad and Fayette streets, Bridgeton
Adoptions of approximately 20 children in foster care will be finalized during court hearings that will begin in the morning and resume in the afternoon.
Throughout the day, the new families will be able to attend a reception in the Jury Management Room on the 2nd Floor, featuring refreshments, activities for the children, and family photos.

**From noon to 2 p.m., agencies including CASA, DYFS, the county Surrogate's Office, the Office of the Public Defender, and Robins' Nest will hold an informational session for families who are interested in adopting.

9:15 a.m. - Burlington County Courthouse, 49 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly
Adoptions of eight children in foster care will be finalized, followed by a continental breakfast and various activities. Children will receive gifts and family photos for their Life Books.

Noon - Camden County
Adoptions of more than 30 children, including 15 children currently in foster care, are scheduled. The families will attend a luncheon at noon in the Camden County Surrogate's Office, 415 Federal St., Camden. Following the luncheon, families will be invited to dessert at the Jury Assembly Room in the Hall of Justice, 101 S. Fifth St., Camden. Children will receive gifts including books from the Surrogate's Office and stuffed animals from the Court.

1 p.m. - Gloucester County Courthouse, 2 S. Broad St., Woodbury
Adoptions of five children in foster care will be finalized, and the new families will be invited to a celebration in the Public Conference Room (Room #167).

Salem County Courthouse, 92 Market St., Salem

New adoptive families, including two who are adopting children in foster care, will attend a celebration in the Freeholder Meeting Room on the 1st Floor of the courthouse.

Sponsors of both counties' celebrations include the Judiciary, the Bar Association, and DYFS. Families will receive framed photos, and there will be various activities and age-appropriate gifts for the children.

2:30 p.m. - Hudson County Administration Building, 595 Newark Ave., Jersey City
Adoptions of more than 30 children currently in foster care will be finalized. The children are from Hudson and neighboring Bergen and Passaic counties.
Following the adoptions, the families will be invited to a luncheon in the rotunda of the William J. Brennan Jr. Courthouse, 583 Newark Ave., Jersey City. There will be recognition awards for the families and gift bags for the children. The sponsors of the event are the Hudson County courts, CASA, DYFS and the United Way.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

9 a.m. - Robert N. Wilentz Building, 212 Washington St., Newark
Essex and Union counties will celebrate National Adoption Day by finalizing adoptions of 85 children in foster care. Court hearings will be followed by a reception at the Rutgers University Law School, 123 Washington St., Newark.

At the reception, the new families will have photos taken and receive commemorative plaques and goodie bags that contain a picture frame, candy and gift cards for the children (at Toys R Us or Barnes & Noble, depending upon the child's age). A club called Help if You Care, headed by two 14-year-old girls, Carly Schlecker and Madi Berse, has collected gifts and will distribute them to the children and their siblings.

Various other activities and entertainment are planned as well. DYFS will co-sponsor the event with CASA and the Superior Court.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

8:30 a.m. -Middlesex County Courthouse, 56 Paterson St., New Brunswick - The event will begin with a press conference at 8:30 a.m., followed by court hearings to finalize adoptions of at least 10 children in foster care and a similar number of children who were adopted privately. After their hearings, the families will be invited to a celebration in the Freeholders Conference Room.

The Middlesex County Bar Foundation, the Superior Court and DYFS are sponsoring the event.