ADOPTUSKIDS TO HONOR CASEWORKERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Oakland, CA - September 1, 2008 – AdoptUsKids announced today that Ms. Melinda Stone of Alternative Family Services in Oakland, CA is the September winner of their Caseworker of the Month award. This award is part of a national initiative celebrating caseworkers for their dedication to children and families nationwide. Ms. Stone has worked in this career for over 15 years. Ms. Stone is featured on adoptuskids.org and adopte1.org in the words of the adoptive family that nominated her.

Thousands of families across the United States rely on their caseworkers every day to connect them to vital services, offer support and guidance, and ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children in the foster care system.

Approximately 300,000 children in the United States enter the foster care system each year. While about 54 percent of these children will return to their parents, the other 46 percent remain in the system. Currently there are 510,000 children in the foster care system and 129,000 are waiting for an adoptive family. Approximately 26,000 children “age out” of the system each year without ever being adopted. About half of the children in foster care are children of color, with older African American boys waiting the longest for adoption.

The Tavel family stated “Melinda has been my caseworker since I began caring for the children. I know that she has many cases and many children, but she supports us with everything, especially with the adoption of Victoria. I knew that I could count on her to help us with any question or problem that I may have had. I feel very proud to have her as our caseworker. She has always been honest with me, and for that I thank her. It is obvious that she does care for the children and she does what she can to help them and the families. Melinda is a very good person and that is why I feel that she deserves to be the caseworker of the month.”

Reflecting on this recipient of the Caseworker of the Month initiative, AdoptUsKids’ Interim Project Director, Kathy Ledesma said, "The personal interest that Melinda Stone has demonstrated in helping both Victoria and the Tavel family to achieve their dreams of adoption is exemplary."

After being nominated for this award, Ms. Stone said, “The Tavel family has always shown a lot of affection for all the children that have spent time in their home. They are a family that works together as a team, and I feel very relieved when we can place children with them, therefore I feel reassurance that they are going to receive a lot of affection, love, and attention. In addition to working with the children in this agency, I also worked with homeless families, people with physical disabilities, women victims of domestic violence and with children abandoned in the streets of Nicaragua. I continue to work as a social worker, although it can be very difficult and sad at times, but to know people like the Tavel family gives me inspiration, strength and confidence to do my job, and to be able to work as a team player with agencies like Alternative Family Services, that supports its employees, families, and children.”

The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids

The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids is a multi-faceted, five-year, federally funded project. Its mission is to recruit and connect foster and adoptive families with waiting children throughout the United States. The Collaboration is managed by the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) based in Baltimore, Maryland, through a cooperative agreement with the Children's Bureau of HHS.

Alternative Family Services

Alternative Family Services, Inc. (AFS) provides therapeutic foster care, short-term emergency foster care and adoption services for abused, neglected and developmentally disabled children in the Bay Area. AFS, a not-for-profit corporation, is licensed by the State of California as a Foster Family Agency and as an Adoption Agency. Alternative Family Services is always looking for loving families to provide foster care and adoption for children in need. They can be contacted at (800) 300-1022.

Contact:

Kate Kirkpatrick

kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org

(717) 545-5251