New Jersey Assembly Bill AJR47

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

Caption

Designates Saturday before Thanksgiving Day as "National Adoption Day" and designates November as "National Adoption Month" in New Jersey.

Impact

The resolution is expected to encourage the community to engage in activities that promote adoption, thus helping to decrease the number of children waiting for permanent homes. By formally recognizing these specific days, the state emphasizes its commitment to supporting children in the foster care system and encourages statewide celebrations, which will culminate in promising family placements. This initiative is especially significant given the trauma that many children in foster care experience as they await adoption.

Summary

AJR47 is an Assembly Joint Resolution designating the Saturday before Thanksgiving Day as 'National Adoption Day' and the month of November as 'National Adoption Month' in New Jersey. This resolution aims to raise public awareness surrounding the importance of adoption services and highlight the ongoing needs of children in foster care. It acknowledges the significant number of children in the foster care system and the need for more families to consider adoption as a viable option for providing stable homes.

Contention

Given the state of the foster care system, where a considerable number of children experience emotional, physical, and psychological challenges, AJR47 seeks to address these issues through community awareness and celebration of adoptions. The resolution draws on past successful initiatives, such as those led by former Judge Michael Nash in California, which aimed to finalize adoptions and highlight success stories. There may, however, be discussions surrounding the extent of celebration versus the underlying systemic issues, such as the impacts of the opioid crisis on placement opportunities and the need for resources to support adoptions.