Come Join Us at NYC Adopt 2000 Today, there are 32,500 children in foster care in New York City -- and almost a third of them will not be able to return home. Most of these children are in pre-adoptive foster homes, but as many as 500 are in need of a permanent home. These boys and girls need and deserve permanent homes, and that's why I am so proud that under Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, the City's Administration for Children's Services (ACS) has made adoption one of its - and one of the City's - highest priorities. We've launched a campaign called "Should I Adopt?" to bring more families together through adoption, and made available a free adoption-information hotline at (212) 676-WISH. New York City completes twice as many adoptions per year as the entire state of California, and this year saw the number of children in foster care decrease to the lowest number in a decade. Due to the hard work of ACS and its network of contract agencies, New York City is leading the nation by finding permanent homes for over 18,400 children over the past five years. While this is good news for many children, there are still hundreds of boys and girls who need loving, permanent adoptive homes right now. The Family Court has decided that they cannot live safely with their biological families, and so they wait for an adoptive one. There's nothing more important to a child than a loving family. That's the greatest single gift that we can give a child, because in addition to providing them with that critical support throughout childhood, a stable and permanent home gives a child a much better opportunity to succeed in life. That's why on Sunday, September 24th, the City is holding its annual adoption fair in Central Park. If you or someone you know has considered adopting a child, then NYC Adopt 2000: Finding Families for Children is the perfect opportunity to learn about the process of adoption. Between 11 a.m and 4 p.m. in the East Meadow near East 97th Street, professionals from over 50 adoption agencies will be available to answer questions and lead adoption orientation sessions. Adoptive parents, including actress and model Isabella Rosellini, will be on hand to share their insights into the joys and challenges of adopting a child in New York City. Some of what you learn about adoption may surprise you. For example, adoptive parents do not have to be married or earn a certain income; there are no fees, and financial assistance is available after the adoption process is complete. You will learn about ACS's campaign to find adoptive homes for children who are older, part of a sibling group or who may have physical and mental needs. In the spirit of the day, there will be many activities for families and their children such as pony rides, a petting zoo, clowns, and musical entertainment by the New York Boys Choir, and performances of "Jack and the Beanstalk" by the Central Park Marionettes. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and spend the day. Adoptive parents are "parents" in the truest sense of the word - people who do not simply give birth to a child, but raise, support, and love a child. For more information on becoming an adoptive parent or about NYC Adopt 2000, please call the ACS Parent Recruitment Hotline at (212) 676-WISH (9474). |
