Contact: Colleen Roche/Samantha I. Lugo (212) 788-2958
Leonora Wiener (ACS) (212) 266-2255
Read the Mayor's WINS Address
on this subject.
Ms. Carey begins her work on behalf of New York City's 41,000 foster children by recording a Public Service Announcement to help recruit new foster and adoptive parents. She will then help celebrate ACS' record-breaking number of adoptions at the City's 21st Annual Adoption Fair on September 27, 1998 at City Hall Park.
"Ms. Carey 's dedication and commitment to music has made her the 'number one' female pop singer today," Mayor Giuliani said. "Her dedication and commitment to children is equally strong and I am certain that as ACS celebrity spokesperson she will soon become the number one children's advocate. She has earned two Grammy awards and sold more than 90 million albums-a total that few artists reach during their lifetime, much less in six years. I admire her talent and success and I applaud her determination to now help improve the lives of New York City foster children and families," the Mayor added.
Ms. Carey said, "I am happy to join the Mayor and ACS in the campaign to find permanent families for New York City's foster children. Every child needs and deserves a loving family, one that provides them with a safe and stable environment--a place where they receive consistent nurturing and attention and where they can develop all their abilities and talents. When kids feel someone is supporting them they can grow and learn to make their dreams real. These are our children. I believe all of us have a responsibility to help where we can," Ms. Carey concluded.
Commissioner Scoppetta said, "Ms. Carey's alliance with ACS comes at a crucial time. With the shift to neighborhood-based services, the recruitment of new foster and adoptive parents is extremely important. Ms. Carey's Public Service Announcement will be instrumental in helping us reach out to those people who are willing to open their hearts and homes to New York City's children.
"Achieving safe, permanent homes for children is a key goal of the ACS Reform Plan," Commissioner Scoppetta added. "Thanks to the combined efforts of ACS, the State Department of Social Services and the New York City Family Court, we completed a record-breaking 3,848 adoptions in FY 1998. This represents a 66 percent increase from FY 1994 and three times the number of adoptions completed in Los Angeles County-a jurisdiction comparable to New York City. Despite our record numbers of adoptions, however, there are still hundreds of children waiting for permanent homes. I am delighted that Ms. Carey will use her considerable talents to bring public attention to the needs of these children."
Of the approximately 41,000 children in foster care, one-third, or 14,000 will not be returning to their biological families for various reasons. Of these children, about 6,800 have been freed for adoption. Most are in pre-adoptive homes, but approximately 700 children are not living with pre-adoptive families. These children are the focus of ACS' current adoption campaign.
Ms. Carey first appearance on behalf of New York City's foster and adoptive children will be at the City's 21st Annual Adoption Fair on September 27, 1998 at City Hall Park from noon to 4pm. The largest adoption event of the year, the fair provides an opportunity for prospective parents to learn more about the adoption process from adoption agency representatives and adoptive parents. For more information about the Adoption Fair, call ACS' adoption hotline: (212) 676-WISH (9474).