ELIZABETH, NJ — The frosty morning of Friday, Nov. 19, may have been any other Friday for many, but for three Union County foster youths, in Rahway, Roselle and Roselle Park, all under the age of 3, their lives changed forever, as Union County Superior Court Judge Lara DiFabrizio granted each the consistency and stability deserved by all children, finalizing their adoptions and ending their time in the child welfare system. Each family had their own CASA volunteer working the case.
The annual event is the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and courts nationwide often celebrate National Adoption Day the business day before, or even open on Saturday, to have adoption hearings. In Union County, all hearings were performed via Zoom due to COVID-19, and DiFabrizio made official what each child likely already felt: they were finally home.
Despite the virtual component, those involved ensured the excitement was palpable. On completion of each adoption, the homes were visited by a caravan of fire trucks, police cars, court staff, law guardians and other case stakeholders, CASA of Union County staff and two of its interns suited up as Captain America and Mr. Incredible, and the bear mascot from Kenilworth’s David Brearley Middle and High School. All cheered for the families, with each taking their first official photo together as a family, and the children spent time with the superheroes and school mascot.
Families received a hot breakfast donated by Urban Griddle in Elizabeth; a flower bouquet provided by Jane Phillips, who, until her recent retirement, headed the Adoption Day Committee for the judiciary; and a gift basket from CASA of Union County, made possible by collections of board and card games, puzzles and movie-night fixings from the Kenilworth school and Summit’s Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child. The latter collection was spearheaded by Desiree Mitchell, daughter of CASA volunteer Hope Mitchell, and included fleece blankets made with classmates. In addition, each child and all siblings received their own superhero dress-up costume and books hand selected by the Phi Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Each family received a Walmart gift card funded by the Union County Bar Association. Costumes for CASA’s interns were loaned by members of the Buy Nothing Group in Cranford and Garwood.
Today, more than 120,000 youths nationwide need a permanent home, with an average wait in foster care of four years. Each year, 23,000 youths age out of the system without a family or safety net in place. For details on CASA of Union County’s mission, the need for volunteer advocates and how to become one, contact Lucia at [email protected] or visit www.casaofunioncounty.org.
Photos Courtesy of Fernando Porras