RELEASE: December 26, 2002

Previous Screen

TRENTON— Adoption advocate Lizette Hamdan of the Mercer County Surrogate’s office, were honored recently by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) at its annual Adoption Awareness Month recognition event.

At the event, DYFS announced it had met the federal requirement to double its adoptions in five years by finalizing
1,367 adoptions during the last federal fiscal year – surpassing its five year goal of 1,242 adoptions by 10 percent.

As part of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997, the Adoption 2002 program provides annual bonuses to states which double their adoptions by 2002. Last year, New Jersey received the sixth largest bonus at $1.12 million and anticipates a similar bonus next year. This year’s 1,367 adoptions is a 31 percent increase over the previous year’s 1,043 adoptions.

“Our success is a direct result of people like Lizette Hamdan, who facilitate the adoption process,” said Department
of Human Services Commissioner Gwendolyn L. Harris. “Thanks to such caring and support, more children now
have a place to call home.”

Ms. Hamdan, of the Mercer County Surrogate’s office, was extremely helpful by scheduling a large number of
adoption finalizations in September, in time for the Adoption 2002 deadline.

States across the nation continue to see a significant increase in adoptions as a result of ASFA. The law stresses the
safety, permanency and well being of children by requiring less time in foster care and more opportunities for
adoption.

Specifically, if a child has spent 15 out of the last 22 months in foster care, the state may proceed through the courts
with terminating a parent’s rights, thus clearing the way for the child’s adoption.

“A permanent and stable home is so important to these children,” said Commissioner Harris. “As more children
become available for adoption, we continue to need more community advocates like Lizette Hamdan.”

DYFS has traditionally faced the challenge of placing older and special-needs children in permanent homes. There
has been a shortfall of these homes, especially for African American children according to Commissioner Harris.

Prospective adoptive parents are required to complete a home study, which includes 24 hours of training, interviews
and a home visit along with background and reference checks. DYFS provides a variety of programs for adoptive
parents and special needs children including a monthly support payment, clothing allowance, free medical insurance
for the adopted child and payment of the required legal fees needed to finalize the adoption.

“Many people don’t think they can adopt but it’s just not true,” said Commissioner Harris. “We are working with
more people adopting children of a different race, families from other states, unmarried couples and single individuals. In fact, single parents account for 43 percent of DYFS adoptions.”

As part of the Adoption Awareness Month recognition event, Commissioner Harris presented a proclamation from
Governor James E. McGreevey declaring November as Adoption Awareness Month.

To learn more about adopting a child, visit the DYFS adoption web site http://www.njadopt.org. A step-by-step
overview of the adoption process is available along with profiles of children waiting to be adopted. A toll-free number,
1-800-99-ADOPT, is also available.

# # #