GRATITUDE:
GRATITUDE:
I just want to take a moment to thank my staff both full-time and contract, as well as our wonderful foster mothers, Florine Dunlap and Brenda Rose who open up not only their homes but their hearts to our wonderful babies and families I also want to thank the great hospital social workers and prenatal providers who go out of their way to asssit our birth and adoptive families during the crucial labor and delivery and post-delivery phases of the adoption. I would like to note specifically:
Johannie Mae Latham- Hospital of University of Pennsylvania
JaNeen Cross- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Pedro Edney University of Pennsylvania
Janice Scott- University of Pennsylvania
Sharon Stockert- Chestnut Hill Hospital
Columbia Silva- Frankford Hospital
Sonji Warner- Hahnemann Hospital
Wanda Morton- Hahnemann Hospital
Della Lazurus- Health Center and Planned Parenthood
Keri Mitchell- Woodland Avenue Health Center
Sue Fleischman- Thomas Jefferson Prenatal
Marie Bonner- Thomas Jefferson University
Daphne Simon- Pennsylvania - Division of Women's Health
Debbie Saunders- Pennsylvania Hospital
Peggy Baldwin- Northeastern Hospital
Gwen Tate- Albert Einstein Medical Center
Samantha Jones- Albert Einstein Medical Center
Mae McKenzie-Temple University
Lisa Harris- Abington Hospital
Deborah Murdah- Crozer Chester Medical Center
Maxi Coforio- Delaware County Memoral Hospital
Kathy Leonard- Montogomery Hospital
JOGA Clinic at Thomas Jefferson
Society Hill Pediatrics
St, Mary's Hospital in Bucks County- Nursing and Social Work Dept.
Elissa Truitt- Children's Hospital
Holly Newpower-Reading Hospital
Jonanne Dix- Capital Hill Mercer Campus Hospital
Lucia Zabala- Columbus Hospital
Pam Samporita- Jersey City Medical Center
Patty Costello- Shore Memorial Hospital
Debra Bokas Osborne Family Health Center - Camden,NJ
Charlene Peart- St. Mary's Hospital -
Langhorne Brianna -Burdette Tomlin Hospital
Laurie Dawayne- Newark Beth Israel
Margaret Janikian- Mountainside Hospital
St. Mary's Hospital- Hoboken, NJ
Common Sense Adoption Services- They are very much our partners and friends over the years and have sent us some wonderful families!
Bertie Treuer of Child and Future in The Netherlands who ensures that the Dutch families reach their US children with proper procedure and very quickly. She is a true adoption maven.
The Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Adoption Unit- Under the leadership of Andrea Hoffman- Jelin, we are lucky to have these wonderful women (Darlene Servance, Michelle Andrews, Bernie McLaughlin, Terry Winkelspelt,Jennifer Houghton, Bella Hurt, Cynthia Coyne, and Joy O'Neil as well as the wonderful Joe Kaminski help us with filings, court dates and make the adoption paperwork and legal process a true joy.
Attorneys: Donald Cofskey, Robin Fleischner, Deborah Spivack, Laurie Goldstein, Deborah Steincolor and the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys- We get so much good advice, families, and legal work from these folks.
BRAVO TO THE BOARD:
I also want to thank our tireless Board of Directors who devote both their hearts and their heads to this agency. As Board Members of a nonprofit agency, they do not receive any compensation and give up valuable time to keep our agency running properly. They approve our budgets and financial statements which are meticulously put together by our in-house accountant, Kay Braun. Kay is an angel with a warm heart and financial skills of a true professional. Our outside accountants are Margolis and Company in Bala Cynwyd,Pa. who put together an outsid review of all agency financial activities. We are lucky to have Kathy Lens, Jeff Winkelman and Rachel Kolman to lead us through the numbers.
Our Board approves all fee changes, grants and changes in policy and program. They Board has a strong representation of Adoptive Families, Financial and Business Experts and even a Doctor. They are Harold Sampson, CPA; Deneen Young, Stephan Nutger of Holland, and Dr. Michelle Folkman. Our Board are experts on
IN MEMORY:
This year in February, 2006, one of our birth mother's Jean G. passed away suddenly. She leaves behind three children and parents, 3brothers and a sister. Jean was a beautiful, kind smart woman who will be deeply missed and remembered. In lieu of flowers and family donations, Jeanne's family asked that all donations be made to our agency for the work we had done with her. We were so touched and feel privileged to keep the connection going between them and the adoptive families of Jean's children. We wish them comfort in this time of loss.
SUBSIDY:
Philadelphia County continues to provide adoption subsidy for special needs children adopted through private agencies such as ours. However, the window of opportunity may not be open forever. If your child is a minority child, he or she would qualify as a "hard to place" child under the federal and state statute regardless of their health. Please contact me for any Philadelphia- born infant from a private agency and feel free to get the word out. I would be happy to consult with you about your child's right to federal funds