Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Huntington) was surrounded by his five adopted children when he and Presiding Officer Paul Tonna (R-West Hills) held a press conference to announce proposed legislation to provide post-adoption counseling services for adopted children and their new families. Presiding Officer Tonna and his wife also have five adopted children. The Presiding Officer has worked closely with Legislator Cooper on this issue and is co-sponsoring this legislation.
The press conference took place on Thursday, May 18, at the H. Lee Dennison Building plaza in Hauppauge.
"As would be expected, many adoptive families experience transitional difficulties after the placement," Cooper said. "By setting up this program, the first of its kind in the State, Suffolk County will take an important step in the effort to increase the number of successful placements and, hopefully, increase the number of parents considering adoption."
"There is a serious need for adoptive parents in Suffolk County," said Tonna. "This legislation seeks to demonstrate that Suffolk County supports a prospective parent's decision to adopt. By offering the counseling and crisis intervention, we can further assist our residents in being the best parents they can be."
Suffolk County receives block grants from New York State which do not provide financial support for post-adoption services. This resolution would require Suffolk to subcontract through a Medicaid-reimbursed clinic to provide individual and group counseling for adopted children and their adoptive families.
"It is important for adoptive parents to know that Suffolk County will be there to support them after an adoption," Cooper stated. "Presiding Officer Tonna and I agree that adoption is a wonderful experience and we hope more people will follow in our footsteps by opening their hearts and homes to children in need."
