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NJ celebrates sixth annual Foster Children's Day

TRENTON— Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner James M. Davy and Office of Children's Services (OCS) Deputy Commissioner Kathi Way honored community volunteers and organizations today for their work on behalf of New Jersey's 11,400 foster children as part of Foster Children's Day.

“Foster Children's Day reminds us how we can work together as a community on behalf of our children,” said Acting Governor Richard J. Codey. “The love and support of those we honor today exemplifies the true spirit of the season.”

Foster Children's Day was established in 2000 to increase awareness of the needs of New Jersey 's foster children. Children may be placed in foster care when they cannot safely remain in their own home because of abuse or neglect.

“Our foster children experience so much in their young lives,” said Commissioner Davy. “Today serves as an excellent reminder of how a simple act of kindness can make a significant difference in a child's life.”

As part of the state's child welfare reform plan, several steps have been taken to improve services to foster children and resource families including:

•  Streamlined the process of becoming a resource/foster family from a year to 90 days.

•  Equalized kinship/relative payments with foster care board rates.

•  Created new resource family support workers – caseworkers assigned specifically to resource families who will work on the family's behalf.

•  Expanded respite services for resource families.

•  Made flex funds available to ensure a child's well being and stabilize the current placement – examples include a security deposit for a larger apartment and an air conditioner for a foster child with severe asthma

•  Expanded networking and peer-to-peer programs under the leadership of Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS).

Community volunteers and organizations honored today were:

•  Samantha Savage , a former foster child from South Jersey and an advocate for youth in care. She helped create both the Burlington Youth Partnership and the Southern Region Youth Advisory Board and now works full-time teaching life skills to teenagers in foster care. She is currently working towards her Masters in Social Work at Rutgers New Brunswick .

•  Children from the Helping Hands Club at Antheil Elementary School , Ewing , Mercer County . The students are being recognized today for their contributions of gifts to foster children in Mercer County for the past two years.

•  Doug Clark and his son, Burley , owners/operators of two Chick-Fil-A Restaurants in Deptford, Gloucester County . The Clark 's collaborated with the Division's Resource Family Units of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties to host a Resource Family Appreciation Day this past October.

•  The Briad Group is based in Livingston , Essex County . The Briad Group owns and operates a number of hospitality related-businesses in New Jersey , including the operation of approximately 65 Wendy's Restaurants. This year, each of their Wendy's Franchise Restaurants “adopted” a child, collecting over 200 gifts for New Jersey 's foster children throughout the state.

•  The New Jersey Police Benevolent Association, Inc. is based in Iselin , Middlesex County . The NJ PBA, through their Sports and Special Events Committee, has donated close to $50,000 worth of gifts over the past three years, working closely with Foster and Adoptive Family Services and will be going into its 4th year with this season's contribution.

•  The Burlington County Bridge Commission based in Palmyra , Burlington County . The Commission hosts a Holiday Party for Resource Families in Burlington and Camden Counties and Family Service at their Palmyra Cove Nature park.

To learn more about becoming a resource family, call toll free 1-877-NJ-FOSTER or visit www.njfostercare.org .

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