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Forever Families Through Adoption (FFTA) Finalizes First Hague Outgoing Adoption!

On Thursday, June 17th, 2010, Forever Families Through Adoption Inc., a New York and Connecticut authorized adoption placement agency and resource center, finalized its first
Hague adoption.

The Hague Convention, which entered into force for the United States in April of 2008, was created in regards to International Adoptions, to prevent child trafficking and abduction, and to ensure that each adoption is in the best interest of the child. Pursuant to the stringent standards of the Convention and the Department of State, FFTA received full Hague accreditation in June of 2009.

In addition to being the first Hague approved adoption for FFTA, it was also the first
outgoing Hague adoption to be finalized in Westchester County. Judge Kathie E. Davidson,
Supervising Judge of the Ninth Judicial District, presided over the hearing as a family from the
Netherlands finalized the adoption of their second American born son, Sebastian. Joy S.
Goldstein, LCSW, ACSW, Executive Director of Forever Families Through Adoption (FFTA), shared
this exciting occasion with her husband, Michael, along with several staff members and thrilled
family members who traveled with the adoptive parents from The Netherlands. The Law Firm of
Michael S. Goldstein, Esq., one of only three Hague approved attorney’s in the United States,
represented the family as they finalized their adoption on this special day at the White Plains
Family Courthouse.

Charity Book and Bunny Drive to benefit Forever Families Through Adoption

From March 2nd through April 6th, customers at the Waldenbooks in the Rye Ridge Shopping
Center will be able to purchase children’s books and stuffed bunny rabbits to donate to
Forever Families Through Adoption. Carol Meister, Waldenbooks’ Store Manager, selected the
local adoption agency as the recipient for this year’s drive.

This is the second year that FFTA was selected for the book drive, which is a chain-wide
campaign for Borders/Waldenbooks stores across the country. Last year hundreds of children’s
books and stuffed bunny rabbits were donated to Forever Families Through Adoption by the
generous customers and staff at Waldenbooks.

Carol Meister, Joy S. Goldstein, LCSW, ACSW, Executive Director and the staff at Forever
Families Through Adoption, all share a commitment to helping spread a little happiness
through the books and stuffed animals to children who are in need.

For more information about donating through the book drive contact (914) 937-3370
For more information about Forever Families Through Adoption contact (914) 939-1180

FFTA is proud to introduce staff member Bruno Borges

Think of someone in your life who is always optimistic, enthusiastic and likes to lift
people’s spirit up. If you’ve done so, then you must know FFTA’s Administrative Assistant
Bruno Borges. His heart’s biggest passion is reaching out to others. Currently in his junior
year as a Psychology major at Nyack College, his goal is to continue his studies to
obtain a masters degree in Social Work.

In 2008, Bruno was appointed as a missionary by his church and put his studies
on hold to join a six month missionary program in Brazil (where he was born and lived
until he was 8 years old) with Operation Mobilization (OM – www.om.org); a Christian
based non-profit organization whose focus is to reach out to the less fortunate around
the world through a diversity of humanitarian services. The six month program was
extended for another year when Bruno was invited to work with OM Brazil as Executive
Assistant and Personnel Manager. OM Brazil holds the Missionary Training Center for OM
Latin America, which also provided Bruno the opportunity to teach English to transcultural
missionaries.

During his time in Brazil, Bruno also co-founded and co-coordinated AIDSLink
Brazil; a national branch of AIDSLink International (www.aidslinkinternational.org) whose
mission is to transform lives and communities by mobilizing and equipping people to
impact the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. What this means in practical terms is:

• Equipping local people to respond through training and educating
• Mobilizing: making people aware of the need and how they can help
• Networking: getting alongside those involved
• Supporting and strengthening local responses
• Prevention
• Helping children affected by HIV and AIDS
• Reaching out to those who are vulnerable

Bruno continues to work as a volunteer when not in school and working full time
at FFTA, with AIDSLink International as a member of the steering committee and training
team. However, lately most of his free time focuses on upcoming wedding plans, as
he is getting married in July of 2010 to his beautiful Giselle.

Bruno is thrilled to be working as FFTA’s Administrative Assistant where he assists
clients through the ins and outs of the application and approval process and
continues to contribute to making a difference in other people’s lives. Be sure to say
hello when you call FFTA as Bruno will be answering your call with a smile on his face.

Becca Leitman, MSW joins FFTA

Forever Families Through Adoption, Inc. warmly welcomes Becca Leitman to the FFTA family. Becca has joined the staff of FFTA with diverse experience in child welfare.

Becca graduated from Boston University with a degree in photojournalism. She then earned her Master’s degree from New York University Silver School of Social Work, with a concentration in Clinical Studies.

Becca’s interest in social work commenced while teaching English in Costa Rica where she noticed the need for counseling services. Prior to attending NYU, Becca worked at the Children’s Aid Society in medical foster care where she counseled both foster and birth parents along with foster children. Additionally, she was a research assistant for the NYU Child Study Center where she studied sibling relationships in foster children.

While attending NYU, Becca interned at an elementary school in Harlem, working with special needs children and attended IEP meetings. In her second year, Becca was accepted into the Children of the World Fellowship Program where she counseled immigrant children and families and attended an educational seminar in Ghana to study Ghanaian social welfare agencies.

Becca believes her varied experience in the social work field will assist her in working with birth and adoptive parents. Becca and her younger brother were both adopted and her sister is a birth child. She feels very blessed to have such an amazing family and as an adoptee, she has always dreamed of helping children find their forever homes.

Becca spends her leisure time taking photographs, painting, reading, running, camping and spending time with her family and friends. She looks forward to sharing her experiences with you and working with you to help you make your forever family.

Evening at Stonewall Pond

A Gourmet Tasting Event and Silent Auction to benefit Forever Families Through Adoption

Click here for an event recap!

Thursday, September 10th, 2009
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
212 Taconic Road, Greenwich, CT 06831

Contributions support these FFTA programs:

• Adoption education and awareness in the schools and community
• Adult adoptees mentoring program for young adults
• Finding "forever homes" for children of incarcerated women

Participating Restaurants	Our Sponsors
Cafe' Mirage Portchester, NY Morgans Fish House Rye, NY Ruby's Oyster Bar & Bistro Rye, NY Solaia Enoteca & Ristorante Greenwich, CT Sonora Portchester, NY	Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Pleasantville, NY Chocolations, LLC Mamaroneck, NY House of Flowers Mamaroneck, NY Linens ala Carte White Plains, NY The Wine Gallery Rye Brook, NY Wine at Five Rye, NY

Please RSVP by August 20, 2009
Tickets are $125 per person

Click here for the downloadable invitation

Waldenbooks Helps Local Adoption Agency Bring Joy to Children in Need

Rye Brook, April 24, 2009 Joy Goldstein, Executive Director of Forever Families Through Adoption, a Westchester adoption agency, was thrilled when she learned in February that FFTA had been selected by the Waldenbooks in Rye Brook to be this year’s beneficiary of their Easter book and bunny drive. The local book and bunny drive was one of many held by Waldenbooks all across the country.

During March and April, customers of the Waldenbooks in the Rye Ridge Shopping Center were
asked to purchase children’s books and stuffed bunny rabbits to donate to FFTA. Finally this week, the many boxes of stuffed toys and books arrived at the agency.

Carol Meister, Waldenbooks’ Store Manager, was overwhelmed with gratitude at the generosity of her staff and customers. “Joy and I share a very special commitment to children in need, and so many people answered our call. I’m proud of how successful the book drive was because it
means that hundreds of children can now be delivered a little happiness.”

Joy, who has dedicated her life to finding forever families for children in need through domestic
and international adoptions, agreed. “During financially difficult times, it is wonderful to know local families stepped up and purchased these items to help children in greater need and support our mission. The books and rabbits will be a special blessing for the children.”

Read More...

Westchester Families Donate Time and Merchandise
to Less Fortunate Children

Rye Brook March 18, 2009 Joy and Michael Goldstein, who have dedicated their lives to delivering happiness to parents worldwide interested in adopting, spread happiness recently to children in Aruba when they hand delivered $3,000.00 worth of donated books, DVD’s, Frisbees, and a color printer/scanner. During financially difficult times, local families and staff members stepped up and purchased these requested items to help children in greater need. Forever Families Through Adoption, Inc. and the Law Firm of Michael S. Goldstein, located in Rye Brook, New York arranged to visit two orphanages/children’s homes on the Dutch island of Aruba.

Joy and Michael along with their three sons visited with Casa Cuna and Imeldahof Children’s Homes to personally bring these items. Last year when the Goldstein’s visited the same orphanages they donated teddy bears and chocolates. Aruba, one of the smaller Dutch ABC islands, has many drug exposed babies living and growing up in what are considered “Children’s Homes” without the likelihood of ever finding their “forever home”. There are very few in‐country adoptions and no out of country adoptions from Aruba. Most, if not all of the children in these group homes will remain until they are asked to leave at the young age of 18, when they are expected to learn the difficult responsibility of living on their own. Although while living within the homes they are nurtured and taken care of by loving staff, sadly, many will end up back on the streets or incarcerated. Read More...

F.F.T.A. Celebrates Dutch American Adoption Day

Rye Brook, September 8, 2008. Joy and Michael Goldstein, the founders of Forever Families Through Adoption, Inc. (FFTA), a New York and Connecticut authorized not-for-profit adoption placement agency and resource center, are pleased to announce the adoption of three infants during a very special Dutch American Adoption Day event.

Baby girl Jasmine and baby boys Brandon and Samuel all found homes in the Netherlands with couples anxious to expand their families. The babies were born in Westchester County in February and April and went home with their new families shortly thereafter.

The adoptions were finalized in White Plains on September 8th during a heart-warming ceremony in the Family Court. The Dutch families returned to New York for the finalization, accompanied by elated extended family members and the staff members from the adoption agency.

Also in attendance were officers from the Consulate General of the Netherlands, Miranda van Iersel and Zwanette T. Peterkin. Older siblings and grandparents who traveled from the Netherlands were included in the joyous experience.

“It was such a special day!” explained Joy Goldstein, FFTA’s Executive Director. “The Court arranged for all three Dutch families to finalize their adoptions at the same time. Judge Kathie Davidson and Court Attorney Maria Recine who presided over the ceremony exhibited such warmth and sensitivity.” Read More...

The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions

On April 1, 2008 the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption entered into force for the United States. This essentially means that all adoptions between the United States and other Convention Countries will be governed by the Hague rules.

So if you are wondering how this affects Forever Families Through Adoption, here is a quick Hague 101 primer. Read More...

F.F.T.A. Helps Local Couple Adopt Son in Record Time

Rye Brook, November 25, 2007. 2007 will be remembered by restaurateur Lisa McKiernan as a year of great additions to the town of Rye. In May, McKiernan and her partners in the Pearl Management Group opened Morgans Fish House, which was chosen as one of the area’s 10 Best Restaurants of 2007 by inTown magazine and praised by the Rye Record as “a great addition to the local dining scene.” Then, in late September, she and husband, Brendan, welcomed an addition of their own: an adopted son, Dylan Joseph. Read More...

F.F.T.A. Delivers Joy to Children in the Dominican Republic

Rye Brook, September 26, 2007. Joy and Michael Goldstein, who have dedicated their lives to delivering happiness to childless couples worldwide, were able to spread a little happiness recently to children in the Dominican Republic. Marta Moya-Goldenberg, CSW, a representative of FFTA, hand-delivered stuffed bears to fifty children under the age of seven who live in the impoverished communities of Chichigua and Cangrejo. Read More...

F.F.T.A. Joyfully Make Their First Baby Announcements

Rye Brook, August 24th, 2007. Joy and Michael Goldstein, the founders of Forever Families Through Adoption, Inc. (FFTA), a newly authorized New York and Connecticut not-for-profit adoption placement agency, are pleased to announce the successful placements of their first two infants. Read More...

Rye Brook couple starts non-profit adoption agency

The realization of a 12-year dream By Jeff Benzak A Rye Brook couple with extensive experience in the adoption field recently opened a new adoption agency. On Monday, the non-profit agency, Forever Families Through Adoption, delivered its first baby, a girl, to two loving parents from New York City. Read More...

He Said, She Said

Michael and Joy Goldstein on Private Placement vs. Agency Adoptions - Which is Right for You? Michael and Joy Goldstein are uniquely qualified to discuss the relative merits of private placement and agency adoptions. Since adopting three sons of their own in the early 1980's, they have dedicated their lives to helping birth parents, adoptive parents and children free for adoption. During most of that time, Michael has assisted clients in navigating the process of private placement adoption as an attorney, while Joy worked side-by-side with him as an adoption counselor. A few years ago, however, the two decided to apply for the authorizations required to open an adoption agency. Now, while Michael continues to help private clients, Joy is able to offer potential adoptive parents and birthparents all of the services of a New York and Connecticut state-authorized placement agency. We met in their offices housed in the same building in Rye Brook, NY to learn more. Read More...