FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2009
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CONTACT: DCF Press Office
609-633-8507
Kate Bernyk
Lauren Kidd
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** MEDIA ADVISORY **
DCF Plans Over 200 Adoptions to Commemorate National Adoption Month
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) will celebrate National Adoption Month this November by co-hosting 12 events to honor adoptive families and finalize adoptions of approximately 220 children currently in foster care.
The majority of this month’s events, stretching from Cumberland County to Essex County, will be held over a three-day period, culminating on Saturday, November 21, with the state’s largest National Adoption Day celebration held annually in Newark.
This year’s celebrations include many adoption finalizations for adolescents in foster care, as well as many sibling groups being adopted together.
Some counties will also celebrate private adoptions that are not conducted through the state’s child welfare system.
A complete list of the scheduled events is below. Please note that adoption court hearings are closed to the press, but each event listed notes whether members of the press are invited to any scheduled family celebrations and other receptions following the court hearings. If there is no public event, reporters or photographers may be connected with an adoptive family in their area.
If the press is interested in covering one of these events or being connected with a family, please 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 DCF adoption Web site at www.njadopt.org.
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
OCEAN COUNTY
Ocean County Justice Complex
120 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ
9:00 a.m.
Approximately 10 children in foster care will finalize adoptions. The new families will be invited to a reception following their hearings at: Ocean County Library, Mancini Hall, 120 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ. Press are invited to attend this reception.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
SALEM COUNTY
Salem County Courthouse
92 Market Street, Salem, NJ
1:30 p.m.
Approximately 6 children in foster care will finalize adoptions.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
1 JFK Square, Room 201
New Brunswick, NJ
8:30 a.m.
Approximately 15 children in foster care will finalize adoptions. A press conference will begin at 8:30 a.m.
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Monmouth County Courthouse
71 Monument Park, Freehold, NJ
1:30 p.m.
Approximately 7 children in foster care will finalize adoptions.
Friday, November 20, 2009
CAMDEN COUNTY
Camden County Courthouse
Hall of Justice, 101 S. 5th Street, Camden, NJ
11 a.m.
Approximately 27 children in foster care will finalize adoptions. The new families will be invited to a celebration luncheon which will begin around 12 p.m. at: Aletha Wright Administration Building, 600 Market Street, Camden, NJ. The luncheon is sponsored by the Camden County Surrogate’s Office. Press are invited to attend this luncheon.
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Burlington County Superior Court
49 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly, NJ
8:30 a.m.
Approximately 13 children in foster care will finalize adoptions. The new families will be invited to a celebration luncheon which will begin at 11 a.m. at: Burlington County College, 1 High Street, Mount Holly, NJ. Press are invited to attend this luncheon reception.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Cumberland County Courthouse
West Broad and Fayette Streets, Bridgeton, NJ
8:30 a.m.
Approximately 12 children in foster care will finalize adoptions.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Gloucester County Courthouse
2 North Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ
1:30 p.m.
Approximately 8 children in foster care will finalize adoptions.
HUDSON COUNTY
Hudson County Administration Building, Family Courthouse
595 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ
1:30 p.m.
Approximately 20 children in foster care will finalize adoptions. A press conference will be held at 2 p.m. at: William J. Brennan Jr. Courthouse Rotunda, 583 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ. At 2:30 p.m. the new families will be invited to a lunch reception at the William J. Brennan Jr. Courthouse Rotunda. This event is co-sponsored by the family court, CASA, the United Way of Hudson County and UPS. Press are invited to attend the reception.
MERCER COUNTY
Mercer County Superior Court
175 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ
8:30 a.m.
Approximately 8 children in foster care will finalize adoptions. The new families will be invited to a celebration brunch at 10 a.m. at: Mercer County Superior Court, 175 South Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Trenton, NJ. Press are invited to attend this reception.
UNION COUNTY
Union County Courthouse
2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ
1:30 p.m.
Approximately 20 children in foster care will finalize adoptions. A reception for the new families will follow the hearings at: Kean University, Downs Hall, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union NJ. Press are invited to attend this reception.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
ESSEX COUNTY
Robert N. Wilentz Building
212 Washington St., Newark, NJ
9:00 a.m.
Approximately 70 children in foster care will finalize adoptions. The new families will be invited to a reception after their hearings at: Rutgers University Law School, 123 Washington St., Newark. The event is co-sponsored by CASA and the Superior Court. Press are invited to attend this reception.
