Adoption Month In The Granite State

By Mary Breen 

NHDCYF Adoption Unit

In November New Hampshire celebrated National Adoption Month with a variety of events. Casey Family Services held their annual Family Fun Night at the Manchester YMCA on Saturday, November 4, 2006. A large number of adoptive families came together to celebrate. They enjoyed pizza, cake and the open gym and swim. Several families indicated that they love coming to the event because, “it’s the only time my child doesn’t feel different about being adopted since everyone here is adopted.”

On November 6th a group of DCYF adoption social workers and private agency staff met with adoption attorneys. They shared breakfast and reasons why they were in the adoption field. Discussion centered around adoption practice in New Hampshire and working cooperatively in the public and private sectors. All agreed that New Hampshire is unique in that there is a small adoption community that works well together.

The annual NH adoption celebration event was held at the State House on November 13^th. Guest speakers included Governor Lynch, DHHS Commissioner John Stephen, DCYF Director Maggie Bishop, Probate Judge John Maher and Jan Beauparlant, foster/adoptive parent from Manchester. Governor Lynch read and signed an Adoption Month Proclamation and posed for photos. Commissioner Stephen recognized the commitment and service of adoptive parents in New Hampshire, the work being done by the Community and Faith-Based Initiative and the volunteerism of the Heart Gallery photographers. Judge Maher was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for his many years of service in the Court system, as he retires this year. The highlight of the event was Judge Maher finalizing an adoption by foster/adoptive parents Paul and Julie Desmarais.

DCYF was represented at the WMUR “How to” Expo on November 18-19 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. They had a booth with information about adoption and foster care. Various DCYF staff and foster/adoptive parents volunteered at the event.

On Tuesday, November 28^th, Casey Family Services was honored in Washington D.C. with the Adoption Excellence Award from the Federal Dept. of Health and Human Services for their work in providing supportive services to families who have adopted.