RELEASE: October 3, 2001

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TRENTON - The Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) honored families, organizations and staff who met the challenge of finding adoptive homes at its annual Adoption Awareness Month luncheon at the War Memorial today.

"Until people like you came into their lives, these children had no one to count on and no place to call home," said James W. Smith, Jr., acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services. "But because of your kindness, your commitment and your love, they now have a permanent home and loving parents."

DYFS sponsors the awards luncheon each year to honor adoptive families along with individuals and groups who have assisted the Division in finding adoptive homes. The event is also sponsored by the Association for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) and the DYFS Adoption Services Advisory Committee.

"More and more people are opening their hearts and homes through adoption," said DYFS Director Charles Venti. "However, we continue to need more people like those we honor today-- more children are becoming available for adoption than ever before."

Last year, a record 911 children were adopted through DYFS, a 30 percent increase. Across the nation, states are seeing a significant increase in adoptions as a result of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997. The law stresses the safety, permanency and well being of children by reducing their time in foster care and creating more opportunities for adoption.

As part of the event, Acting Commissioner Smith presented a proclamation from Acting Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco declaring November as Adoption Awareness Month in New Jersey.

This year’s honorees included:

Adoptive families

• Patricia Ann Washington, Englewood, Bergen County
• Kevin Morrison, Medford, Burlington County
• Pricilla and Harry Hopkins, Willingboro, Burlington County
• Beulah and Willie Gary, Irvington, Essex County
• John and Sal Jensen, West Orange, Essex County
• Sheila and Donald Ransom, Monmouth Junction, Middlesex County
• Mary Englemeyer and Arthur McManus, Piscataway, Middlesex County
• Ida Harris, Piscataway, Middlesex County
• Claudine Lee and Terrence Taylor, Bricktown, Ocean County
• Kevin Thomas, Paterson, Passaic County
• Sara and Jared Downing, Carney’s Point, Salem County
• Judith Allison and Mary Ellen Ball, Highland Lakes, Sussex County
• Linda Briggs, Schenevus, New York

Community Honorees

• Alice Nadelman, Ph.D., Teaneck, Bergen County

Helped design DYFS’ pre-adoptive treatment homes

• St. James Youth Group, Jamesburg, Middlesex County

Collects and donates toys for foster children in DYFS’ adoption unit

• Beth and Patty Murray, Milltown, Middlesex County

Collect gifts which are donated to DYFS’ adoption unit for foster children

• Maria Miley, Vernon, Sussex County and Kenneth Widegeon, North Plainfied, Somerset County

Helped organize DYFS’ summer camp for adopted children

• Robert Nolan, Rutger’s School of Social Work

Developed certificate program to help professionals under adoption issues and how they impact families

DYFS Staff

• Robert Ford, posthumously, Southern ARC, former homefinder and trainer
• Evelyn Gillon, Casemanager, child processor
• Audrey Malec, Northern ARC, homefinding supervisor
• Rona McCoy, Central ARC, child processor
• Lorraine Pascal, Metro Select ARC, administrative assistant

To learn more about adopting a child, visit the DYFS adoption web site http://www.njadopt.org or call 1-800-99-ADOPT.

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