Hundreds Of NJ Kids Get Adopted In Time For Thanksgiving – West Orange, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Hundreds of children across New Jersey are celebrating the holidays with their new families after being adopted just in time for Thanksgiving.

As a tribute to National Adoption Day, county courts across the state have been holding ceremonies to finalize paperwork for new adoptions in November, capping off emotional journeys through the foster system for many young people.

The grateful families include Marcus Morris and his father, John, of Passaic County.

Sallyanne Floria, an assignment judge in the Essex County Vicinage, called the Morris’ journey “amazing.” According to Floria, the youth entered New Jersey’s system when he was 12-years-old, becoming legally free for adoption at 14, later than most of his peers.

He was later diagnosed with autism during his time in foster care, according to court officials.

John first met his son when he volunteered to act as his mentor, something he’d done for four other kids through the Children Aid and Family Services organization.

“When it came time for the adoption, I realized there was no one that would take care of Marcus the way that I would,” Morris recalled.

A long but rewarding process soon began, ending when John officially adopted his son a week before his 18th birthday.

“I was excited because I’d gotten to know him,” Marcus said of his father. “I know I’m going to be loved in a great home.”

Story continues below video

Across New Jersey, other courthouse celebrations have taken place during the weeks before Thanksgiving.

At the Atlantic and Cape May Vicinage, adoptions for 30 children were finalized on Nov. 22. The ceremony included a superhero-themed celebration and gifts for the kids.

At the Union County Courthouse, judges and court staff gave some heartfelt well-wishes to six, new “forever families” during a Nov. 22 ceremony.

After the proceedings, the new families were treated to a breakfast and a program with guest speakers, a photo booth and other entertainment. Representatives with the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Union County handed out gifts collected by students and staff at David Brearley High School in Kenilworth.

“The parents who have chosen adoption are truly the real-life superheroes,” said Peter Famia, coordinator of Heroes 4 Heroes, which volunteered to take some comic book-themed action photos for the new families.

In Essex County, court staff presided over 24 adoptions on Nov. 22.

Following the hearings, the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency and the Junior League of Montclair-Newark hosted a celebratory brunch for the participating families at the Rutgers Law School-Newark, treating them to a magician, face painter, balloon artist, crafts, gift bags, gift cards for the children, and plants for each family.

After finalizing five adoptions in Burlington County, the new families were taken for an outing at The Funplex in Mount Laurel.

“There is no greater day or a more meaningful event in the court year than Adoption Day,” Assignment Judge Jeanne Covert said. “We are grateful to all of our constituents who make this dream a reality for so many children and families.”

In Sussex County, families were treated to a post-adoption celebration at Skylands Ninja Warrior in Newton. In Morris County, kids and parents toasted their new adoptions at Circle Bowl & Entertainment in Ledgewood. And in Passaic County, a celebration took place at Chuck E. Cheese on Route 23 in Wayne.

Other courts hosted their own events for National Adoption Day, each supported by a network of local organizations and nonprofits.

  • In Ocean County, 25 children were adopted
  • In Monmouth County, 28 children found new families
  • In Bergen County, 15 adoptions were finalized

Nationwide, the need for adoptions is still urgent, recent data shows.

In October, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report that offered a bit of sunshine: the number of kids in foster care has dropped for the first year since 2011. However, there are still about 437,300 children across the U.S. in need of a permanent home, researchers said.

Finding the right family for a child becomes even trickier when special needs come into play, according to Madelin Einbinder, a family court judge in the Ocean County Vicinage.

“I think it’s harder for strangers to come in and see if they can adopt them, as opposed to extended family,” Einbinder said.

Another potential obstacle for foster kids is their age, said Deborah Venezia, presiding family court judge in the Middlesex Vicinage.

“It takes a special family who is willing to [adopt] children who are of advanced age,” Venezia said. “And I think that when you find that special connection, that in and of itself is a godsend.”

According to New Jersey Court officials, 1,058 children were adopted in 2018. Only 97 of those youths were ages 13 and up.

But while there may be challenges to adopting an older child, there are also advantages, according to John Morris. And that includes things that are just as helpful to himself as a father as they are to his son.

For example, in an attempt to teach Marcus more independent living skills, John has been able to pass off the reins for some common household tasks: cooking food, doing his homework and lending a hand with chores such as raking leaves or cutting the lawn.

And having an older child can offer opportunities for fun that a parent may not be able to have with a younger one, Morris said.

“On [Marcus’] 18th birthday we went white water rafting,” he recalled. “We had a great day together.”

See more information about adopting a child, foster care or kinship care in New Jersey.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.