Camden County Among the Highest in Finalizing Adoptions

In Camden County, 23 children had their adoptions finalized in 2014, the Freeholder Board and Surrogate Pat Jones said this week as part of National Adoption Day.

“What could be more important than matching a child with loving parents inside a stable home?” Jones said. “It is my distinct honor to participate and bring together adoptive parents, the Surrogate’s Court staff, adoption professionals, judges and attorneys to celebrate and honor the families who are finalizing their adoptions.”

Camden County is consistently near the top in terms of New Jersey counties that finalize the highest number of adoptions per year.

These adoptions represent the full spectrum of cases facilitated by the Surrogate’s Court throughout the year. This includes domestic and international adoptions, as well as adoptions facilitated through private agencies and the New Jersey State Department of Children and Families.

The Camden County Surrogate’s Court also finalizes the largest number of international, or Hague Adoption Convention, cases in the state each year.

The Hague Adoption Convention established international standards of practices for inter-county adoptions that have been followed in the United States in 2008.

“I congratulate Surrogate Jones and her staff for the important work they do in matching a child with loving parents inside a stable home,” Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez said. “This is done not just on National Adoption Day but throughout the year as they help adoptive parents welcome new additions to their families.”

Recent figures indicate that over 2% of all U.S. children are adopted and that about 60% of Americans know someone who has been adopted or has adopted. Informational expos and programs such as those hosted by the Camden County Surrogate’s Court are instrumental in placing children in a stable home.

Adoption Day is a national initiative to raise awareness of the more than 100,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families.