RELEASE: January 26, 2005

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DYFS sets new adoption record

Caseload decreases for seventh consecutive month

TRENTON – Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner James M. Davy provided an update today on several benchmarks in the state's child welfare reform plan including the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) finalizing a record 1,383 adoptions last year- a 36 percent increase over 2003.

“It is great to see that more and more people are making the commitment to adopt,” said Acting Governor Richard J. Codey. “Thanks to the love and support of these individuals, more children across New Jersey are now in loving and permanent homes.”

Highlights of last year's adoptions include:

•  81 percent by foster parents- the remaining 19 percent were “select home” adoptions in which DYFS actively recruited an adoptive home for the child

•  61 percent of the children were African-American

•  65 percent of the children were between the ages of one and six- an additional 28 percent were between the ages of seven and 12

•  the number of males was 52 percent compared to 48 percent female.

“This is not just a statistic,” said Commissioner Davy. “This means that 1,383 more children now have a permanent, loving family and a safe home. This means 1,383 more children know they are wanted.”

As a result of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997, states have seen a significant increase in adoptions over the past several years. The law stresses the safety, permanency and well being of children by reducing their time in foster care and creating more opportunities for adoption. Specifically, if a child has spent 15 out of the last 22 months in foster care, the state must proceed through the courts with terminating a parent's rights thus clearing the way for the child's adoption.

“Adoptions truly are our most compelling success stories,” said Janet Farrand, president of Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS), the lead advocacy organization for foster and adoptive families in New Jersey . “Along with Commissioner Davy, we applaud our foster parents who made the commitment to adopt.”

Commissioner Davy also announced today that the DYFS caseload decreased for the seventh consecutive month to 61,262 children/32,895 families – its lowest point since October 2003. Since July, the caseload has decreased by more than 10 percent.

In addition, there are now a record 1,921 caseload-carrying caseworkers in local DYFS district and adoption offices as well as DHS' regional institutional abuse units. In DYFS district offices, caseworkers are now handling an average of 17.75 families or 33.2 children.

“This caseload trend can be attributed to the hard work of our DYFS staff,” said Commissioner Davy. “Thanks to the changes we are making through our reform plan, staff is able to spend even more time with families and hopefully make a true difference in a child's life.”

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

A breakdown of the 2004 adoptions is attached.

ADOPTION FINALIZATION STATISTICS

CALENDAR YEAR 2004

Statewide adoptions were finalized for 1,383 children (36% increase over 2003)

1127 (81%) were foster parent adoptions

256 (19%) were select home adoptions

Race breakdown

846 (61%) were African-American

297 (21%) were Caucasian

78 (6%) were Hispanic

162 (12%) were other races/interracial

Age breakdown

16 (1%) were less than a year old

901 (65%) were between the ages of one and six

381 (28%) were between the ages of seven and 12

85 (6%) were age 13 or older

Gender breakdown

657 (48%) were female

726 (52%) were male

History of New Jersey adoption finalizations statewide since the Adoption & Safe Families Act (ASFA) by calendar year:

•  597

•  805

•  702

•  911

•  1,035

•  1,266

•  1,014

•  1,383

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