Massachusetts Celebrates More Than 200 Adoptions of Children from Foster Care

Adoption Ceremonies Part of 6th Annual National Adoption Day Celebration.

WORCESTER, MASS. — Seven courthouses across the state will join Judge Erskine and the Worcester Trial court today in finalizing more than 200 adoptions of children from foster care as part of a statewide celebration of National Adoption Day. The Worcester Trial Court, which will finalize the adoptions of 55 children, is the featured celebration for the state.

This year marks the sixth celebration of the annual event here in the Commonwealth, and will bring the total number of children adopted on this day to more than 1,000. Every November, dozens of judges, attorneys, adoption agencies, adoption professionals and child advocates volunteer their time to finalize adoptions and celebrate all of the families who adopt. Today, they will be celebrating 164 families who will be adopting 208 children; some with disabilities and serious medical needs; sibling groups ranging in age from toddler to adolescents; and children from a different country of origin from their adoptive families.

“This special day celebrates a very happy beginning for kids who have been through challenging experiences,” said Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray. “It is wonderful that so many families from Worcester County and throughout the state have opened their hearts and homes to give children a permanent place to live.”

“Today represents the very best of humanity,” said DCF Commissioner Angelo McClain. “We are incredibly thankful that so many Massachusetts families are willing to provide a loving home for all of these wonderful children.”

National Adoption Day began in Massachusetts in 2003 when 60 children were adopted. Since then, the number of children has gradually increased to 177 children adopted in 2004; 186 children in 2005; 204 children in 2006; 228 children in 2007; and 208 children scheduled for finalization today.

Adoptions will be finalized in:

Boston (Edward W. Brooke Courthouse): 26 children will be adopted by 21 families
Brockton (George N. Covett Courthouse): 34 children will be adopted by 28 families
Cambridge (Middlesex County Juvenile Court): 16 children will be adopted by 14 families
Hadley (Franklin/Hampshire Juvenile Court): 15 children will be adopted by 13 families
Pittsfield (Berkshire Juvenile Court): 18 children will be adopted by 13 families
Salem (Essex County Juvenile Court): 11 children will be adopted by 10 families
Springfield (Hampden County Juvenile Court): 33 children will be adopted by 24 families
Worcester (Worcester Trial Court): 55 children will be adopted by 41 families

While National Adoption Day is a moment to celebrate the hope of a child and the willingness of a family to open their home, it is also an opportunity for us to highlight the great need that exists for adoptive families for children from foster care.

Right now, there are more than 10,000 children in Massachusetts who are living in the foster care system separated from their biological parents. Three thousand of these children who have entered foster care because of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment have a plan for adoption. Approximately 600 of those children need to be placed with an adoptive family. Unless they are connected with adoptive parents they will not only lose the opportunity for basic family joys and family activities that are so often taken for granted, but they will also be at an increased risk for being undereducated, unemployed, homeless and/or involved in substance abuse or criminal activity.

Since 2005, the number of children in foster care under the age of 18 has declined, and the average time a child waits for an adoptive family is 21 months from the date that adoption becomes the permanent plan.

For more information about adopting through the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, please call 1-800-KIDS-508 or click to www.mass.gov/dcf.

National Adoption Day in Massachusetts is made possible each year through the collaboration of the Juvenile Court Department, the Probate and Family Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) and local adoption agencies.

About National Adoption Day

National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the 129,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. For the last eight years, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care.

Celebrated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, more than 300 events are held each year throughout the country to finalize the adoptions of children in foster care, and to celebrate all families who adopt. In total, more than 20,000 children have been will be adopted by from foster care on National Adoption Day.

About the Department of Children and Families (DCF)

The Department of Children and Families is charged with protecting children from abuse and neglect and strengthening families. There are currently 10,000 children in foster care across Massachusetts and more than 40,000 children in all served by the Department. With the understanding that every child is entitled to a home that is free from abuse and neglect, DCF’s vision is to ensure the safety of children in a manner that holds the best hope of nurturing a sustained, resilient network of relationships to support the child’s growth and development into adulthood. DCF programs include foster care, adoption, adolescent services and domestic violence services.

About MARE

MARE is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1957 to find “a permanent place to call home” for children in foster care, including sibling groups and children who are traditionally harder to place. We do this by recruiting, educating, supporting and advocating for families throughout the adoption process. For more information on adopting a child from foster care, contact MARE at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678) or visit www.mareinc.org.

# # #