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Adoption


The word alone seems full of questions. The process is unknown to most who haven't been through it, as are the rewards.

Concerned Persons For Adoption (CPFA) is a non-profit organization in the State of New Jersey dedicated to the belief that every child deserves a family. CPFA is not an adoption agency, but a volunteer organization working to support those who wish to adopt, and to provide educational and networking resources to those who have adopted.
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Join us for our Upcoming Events
 
The 2026 CPFA-NJ Calendar of events link:
 
 
Mark your calendar for upcoming CPFA events.
More information about upcoming events will be posted closer to day of events.
    
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Thursday, April 23, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, CPFA Adoption Book Club

This book will be sure to challenge us on many levels. Join us as we discuss “James” by Percival Everett. All Book Club meetings are held in-person at Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, 182 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932. To preview the book visit https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/173754979-james?ref=nav_sb_ss_4_5.

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 New Date: Sunday, April 26, 11:00 am, Turtle Back Zoo

 

Join us for a fun filled day at Turtle Back Zoo!

 



Sunday, April 26 2026 at 11:00 AM

 

Group rates for 15 or more people are $15.00 per person. CPFA will purchase tickets for the first 20 CPFA members who sign up.

 

To get the discounted rate we must have at least 15 registered people and you must RSVP below by Friday, April 17 @ 12PM.

 
 

Bring a picnic lunch or purchase food at the cafe.

We will meet at the entrance of the zoo at 11:00 AM and proceed into the zoo!

 

Any questions, cannot attend last minute or need to connect on the day of the event?

Please email Michelle Mulhern at [email protected] or 201-400-4465

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May - National Foster Care Month

Friday, May 1, 8:00 pm-9:30 pm, Can We Talk?

Transracial Adoption: What We Needed vs. What We Got—Identity Support through an Adult Adopted Person’s Lens

Join April Dinwoodie—speaker, advocate, and transracially adopted person—for a virtual presentation and open discussion for adult adopted persons (18+).

Featuring a fireside conversation with Nico Dymerski, transracially adopted person, plus audience engagement, discussion on language, and tools to support identity, validation, and meaningful conversations.

🧠 Explore identity through ethnicity, physical traits, family structure, and experiences of loss and grief
💬 Reflect, connect, and be heard

Part 2 of a 3-part series on Identity & Transracial Adoption

📅 Friday, May 1, 2026
🕗 8:00–9:30 PM EDT (via Zoom)
📝 RSVP by April 30, 2026

 
 
About the Presenter: April Dinwoodie is a speaker, advocate, and transracially adopted person dedicated to advancing conversations on adoption, identity, and belonging. She is the Founder of AdoptMent and Executive Director of Transracial Journeys, where she works with families and organizations to support healthy identity development and more inclusive practices. April is also the host of the podcast Born in June, Raised in April.

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Saturday, May 30, 6:15 pm, Somerset Patriots Baseball Game
 
We have been selected to receive 30 seats for the game. These tickets will be available to CPFA members on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration will be forthcoming.
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For any questions or information about CPFANJ upcoming events,
please contact us at:
 

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For those who have adopted an International Child:

Now would be a good time to review your child’s adoption documentation.

  • Birth Certificate
  • Certificate of Citizenship / Naturalization papers
  • Current Passports. If do not have a US passport, to apply for one.
  • First Adoption Decree
  • Social Security Card (with updated citizenship status if obtained prior to obtaining citizenship)

Even if you have a certificate of citizenship for your child, their status may not be listed correctly with Social Security. To check, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.

For more info: www.ssa.gov/ ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

Other documents you may want to obtain are:

  • Drivers License (if of age)
  • State ID card if do not have a drivers license
  • Voter registration if over 18. Will ask you of want to register when applying for drivers license/state id card if they are over 18.

You can click the link below for information on Proof of Citizenship for U.S. Citizens: Documents Used (2024):

https://www.uscitizenship.info/us-citizenship/proof-of-us-citizenship/

This link can be used to Request for the Return of Original Documents: https://www.uscis.gov/g-884

 Below is a link to review Intercountry adoptee rights and safety guide:
 
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 Stepping Out of Adoption’s Shadow:
Confronting the Problem of Unlicensed Adoption Intermediaries and Online Advertising in Private Domestic Adoption 
 

by Celeste Liversidge, Esq. and Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard


A surge in online adoption advertising and the proliferation of unlicensed adoption intermediaries (aka "baby brokers") in the past decade have created a troubling landscape for those impacted by private domestic adoption. Licensed adoption professionals, policymakers, and child welfare advocates should work together to safeguard the well-being of all parties involved in private domestic adoption through education, law enforcement, and legislation.

 

 
 
Below is the link for the complete article: 
 
 
 
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 For a PDF version of this article, click below:
 
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For any questions, inquiries or information about CPFANJ or upcoming events, please contact us at:
 
 
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CPFA offers a great opportunity to network with other adoptive parents. CPFA is not an adoption agency, but a volunteer organization working to support those who wish to adopt, and provide educational and networking resources to those who have adopted. Membership is encouraged and is open to anyone concerned with adoption.
 
If you would like to make a tax deductable donation to CPFA please use this link:
 
 
Questions? Click the Contact Us page and send us an e-mail! 
  
 
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