In honor of National Adoption Day on Nov. 20, Middlesex County hosted its 14th annual National Adoption Day event on Nov. 17 where 11 adoptions of children were finalized.
Since November 2020, Middlesex County has finalized approximately 120 adoptions, according to information provided by the Middlesex County Office of Communications.
“Adoption changes lives in the most extraordinary ways, and National Adoption Day is a bright spot for those of us who are fortunate enough to witness and participate in the event,” County Commissioner Deputy Director Shanti Narra said in a prepared statement. “Today was my first time being a part of this joyous event, and I was honored to participate and help celebrate these Middlesex County families as they officially grow through adoption. On behalf of the entire Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners, I offer my sincere congratulations to all of the adoptees and their adoptive families.”
Middlesex County’s National Adoption Day event is held each November during National Adoption Month with the goal of celebrating and promoting adoption in Middlesex County.
The county’s participation in this annual event began in 2007 under the direction of then-county Surrogate Kevin Hoagland, who retired last year.
New Middlesex County Surrogate Claribel Cortes is continuing the tradition.
“In Middlesex County, we believe deeply in the importance and value of adoption for creating and completing families,” Cortes said in the statement. “I am proud to carry on the tradition of facilitating this beautiful event. Congratulations to today’s families.”
The Middlesex County surrogate acts as the clerk of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, for all adoptions. The Office of the Surrogate ensures that all necessary paperwork is completed, all necessary procedural requirements are met, and that court dates are scheduled in a timely manner. The Office of the Surrogate facilitates all types of adoptions, including stepparent adoptions, aunt/uncle and grandparent adoptions, private placement, DCP&P adoptions, agency adoptions, and adult adoptions, according to the statement.
Among the 11 families finalizing adoptions on this year’s Middlesex County National Adoption Day was Colleen Floyd of Raritan Township. Already the adoptive parent to two children, Floyd completed the adoption of a 5-year-old during the county’s National Adoption Day event and said she chose to participate in the event because “it is a celebration worth sharing with other families. It’s all about the love,” according to the statement.
Floyd shared her thoughts on why people should adopt.
“Adopting a child is like growing another heart; it takes an ordinary life and makes it extraordinary,” Floyd said in the statement. “Adoption to me means that you are constantly growing and changing, blossoming with love and creating, sometimes from scratch, that amazing thing called family.”
Adoptive parent Abdul M. Sampson of Sayreville agreed, describing adoption as “a beautiful experience.”
Sampson’s family officially grew by two during this year’s Middlesex County National Adoption Day event, with the adoption of two biological siblings, ages five and four. The Sampson family chose to adopt because “we wanted to care for the kids,” Sampson said in the statement.
Tiffany and Kareem Nesbey of Spotswood also expanded their family tree during the county’s event. The couple added three children – ages four, three and two – to their family, which already includes adoptive children.
“Adoption has always been in our hearts,” Tiffany Nesbey said in the statement. “We initially thought we would grow our family by adopting a child; we prayed on it and our prayers were answered – times three.”
National Adoption Day has a special meaning for the Nesbey family, as for them it is about “officially closing the door to foster care,” according to Tiffany Nesbey. The day “gives our family the sense of completion we’ve been longing for,” she said in the statement.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s Middlesex County National Adoption Day was once again held via video conference rather than at the County Courthouse in New Brunswick. As in past years, the public portion of the event was open to the public while the actual adoption ceremonies remained private.