N.J. marks big day
for adoptive families
AP from the Home News
Tribune Online, November 20, 2005
NEWARK -- Mark McLoughlin and
Helen Donaldson always wanted a big family.
On Saturday, they officially added No. 3 to their brood with the adoption of
21-month-old Constance, a young lady with golden curls and an inquisitive manner
who had been in their care as a foster child for a year.
The Maplewood couple are adoption veterans, with another foster-child adoption
pending.
"We've talked about six, but we're taking a pause," McLoughlin said.
The couple were among 79 families who finalized adoption of 103 children here
yesterday, as New Jersey's Division of Youth and Family Services celebrated the
sixth National Adoption Day.
Child advocates are trying to draw attention to the many children in foster care
needing a permanent home. In the Garden State, that figure is about 2,000,
said James Davy, commissioner of the Department of Human Services, which
oversees DYFS.
While most of those children are in foster homes with the adoption processes
under way, about 350 have no current prospects of growing up in a family.
"Many people don't think they can adopt, but it's just not true," Davy said.
Single parents account for 41 percent of DYFS adoptions. Many parents
adopt across racial and ethnic lines, and same-sex adoptions are routine in New
Jersey.
Sam Delgado and Mark Newton of Plainfield said they'd looked into the process in
Virginia a few years into their 10-year relationship. Work eventually
brought them to New Jersey, where they found the process more welcoming.
"We wanted to make sure we were ready, to be financially stable and to live in a
supportive community," Newton said.
They were certified for adoption within DYFS in 2003, and have since adopted
Steven, now 2, and hope to become legal guardians of a 14-year-old boy who has
been living with them in foster care since July.
Yesterday, 3-year-old Kevin officially joined the family after almost two years
of living with Delgado, known as Popee, and Newton, called Daddy.
Having seen the workings of several adoption systems, McLoughlin and Donaldson
had a positive impression of the state agency. They say domestic adoption
is not common in their native Australia, so they adopted a 4-month-old South
Korean boy in 1988. When McLoughlin's work with Microsoft brought them to
New Jersey, they adopted Mollie, now 22 months, through a private agency.
Then they heard about DYFS, and entered the process that would bring them
Constance.
They have applied to adopt a fourth child, a 7-year-old girl who has lived with
them in foster care for six months. The family is to move to Seattle in
two weeks as McLoughlin transfers to a new position.
Davy said this year the agency will come close but probably won't exceed its
record of 1,410 adoptions, set in 2004.
Would-be parents are subject to background checks, home visits and interviews to
determine their suitability. DYFS officials said parents typically receive
stipends of $450 per month to assist with the child's care until age 18, as well
as free medical insurance and payment of legal fees related to the adoption.
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