Vol. 6, No. 2• May 2002
Adoption celebration touches hearts
RALEIGH — Fourteen year old Roberta Jones of Raleigh stood before hundreds of adoption advocates at the State Capitol grounds to read her winning essay, “Why I am Proud to Be Adopted.”
Roberta was seven when she first came to the home of Harvey and Vernell Jones, foster parents who subsequently chose to adopt her. Roberta’s essay captures the bittersweet joy of a child who has finally found a home.
“‘When I went to their house, I had only the clothes on my back and some of them belonged to my brothers. My hair had not been washed or combed for many days. My (new) mother took me shopping and when we got back home, she washed and combed my hair,” said Roberta.
“I did not feel very good about myself when I came to the Jones’ house, but now I feel like somebody.”
The event celebrated families newly created through adoption. Last year, 1,379 foster children in North Carolina found permanent homes, up from 1,231 the previous year and 822 the year before.
Carmen Hooker Odom, secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, addressed the contest winners: “I’m proud of the part that our state and county social services have played in helping to create your families. We need more happy endings like yours. That is our challenge, to do everything we can to put North Carolina foster children in touch with families.” Other adoptees who won the “What Adoption Means to Me” contest were Shantee Caldwell, 8, of Monroe and Matthew Price, 11, of Cooleemee. Shantee’s drawing depicts her family of parents, six sisters and three brothers.
Matthew’s essay describes his new family, “My Mom and Dad love children. We do lots of things together. We go on picnics, to ballgames, to the park, and sometimes out to dinner and a movie. The best part about it is we always do it as a family.”
Other awards and recognitions went to families, social workers, and the faith community who have made strides in helping foster children be adopted.
Of the 10,271 children in foster care in North Carolina, 3,011 of them need to be adopted. 1,976 of them have had court action to terminate parental rights, which is necessary before they can be available for adoption. Families have already been identified for many of these children. 616 children in foster care are currently available for adoption, with no family yet identified.
Every November, Adoption Awareness Month promotes public awareness of foster children who need permanent families and homes. Anyone who is interested in adoption can call 1-877-NCKIDS1 or go to the state’s adoption web site: www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/adopt.
The winning entries are featured through the links below:
• Roberta Jones, age 14, Raleigh
• Matthew Price, age 11, Cooleemee
• Shantee Caldwell, age 8, Monroe
Copyright � 2002 Jordan Institute for Families
