Release #441-00

 

Contact:	Sunny Mindel /Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958

MAYOR GIULIANI AND ACS COMMISSIONER SCOPPETTA
ATTEND SPECIAL 'ADOPTION SATURDAY' SESSION AT FAMILY COURT

-A Record 200 Adoptions Of Foster Care Children In One Day-

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today joined Family Court Administrative Judge Joseph Lauria at Manhattan Family Court where a record 200 adoptions of children in the City's foster care system were taking place during a special 'Adoption Saturday' court session.

Mayor Giuliani said, "This is a wonderful day for the 200 children in our foster care system who will be permanently joining their new adoptive families. As we continue to reform the child welfare system, it is important that we find loving adoptive families for foster care children who are legally free for adoption and that we do it as quickly as the law allows. Today's adoption effort by the Family Court and the Administration for Children's Services adds to the record 18,470 adoptions that the City has finalized over the past five years. I commend Judge Lauria and Commissioner Scoppetta and their staffs for working to speed up the adoption process and bring hope and joy to so many children and families."

Since 1996, when Mayor Giuliani established ACS as the City's first agency to see to the well being and care of children, the City has completed a record 18,470 adoptions. That figure represents a dramatic 63 percent increase over the previous five-year period, when the City recorded 11,625 adoptions.

Commissioner Scoppetta said, "I can think of no better way to celebrate National Adoption Day than by finalizing 200 adoptions. I want to thank Judge Lauria not only for this event but also for his commitment to accelerating the adoption process and working closely with us to improve services to children and families. I hope today's event inspires New Yorkers to consider adopting one of the hundreds of foster care children who are now waiting for an adoptive family."

To learn more about the City's adoption programs and children who are legally available to be adopted, call the ACS Parent Recruitment Hotline at 212 676-WISH (9474).

Today's 'Adoption Saturday', a nationwide campaign conceived by the non-profit Alliance for Children's Rights, will result in more than 1,000 adoptions taking place in 10 cities, including New York City. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Freddie Mac Foundation, both supporters of ACS adoption programs, are co-sponsoring today's nationwide effort.