For Immediate Release: December 1, 2009

CONTACT: DCF PRESS OFFICE, 609-633-8507

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

 DCF to Celebrate Reunified Families with “Home for the Holidays” Events
Approximately 100 families plan to attend holiday parties across the state

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is co-hosting five family reunification holiday celebrations with a variety of local non-profit organizations this holiday season. Started in 2007, the “Home for the Holidays” events celebrate families who have recently reunified with their children after spending time in foster care. Each event provides families with donated gifts and features a variety of children’s activities. 

This is the third year DCF has co-hosted “Home for the Holidays” events, and this year’s events will serve families from 10 different counties across the state, spanning from Cape May to Passaic. DCF Commissioner Kimberly Ricketts and other representatives from the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) will be in attendance at the events, along with representatives from each of the co-hosting organizations. 

Donations from Verizon, Atlantic City Electric, NJ Coalition of Automotive Retailers, Williamstown Rotary Club, Target and other individual donors made this year’s events possible. Additionally, all the families will receive $25 gift cards to ShopRite stores, which were made possible through a partnership with New Jersey Food Council and Wakefern. 

DCF's primary goal is to serve and keep children in their own homes whenever possible and appropriate. However, if foster care is necessary, the goal for those children is reunification with their birth families. Approximately 80 percent of children in foster care are reunited with their birth families. DCF does this by helping families identify their strengths and needs as a family, and providing them with the tools they need to achieve success. 

Press and media photographers are invited to attend these events. Please contact the DCF Press Office at the information above. See below for event dates and locations. 

Home for the Holidays 2009 

Thursday, December 3 (4pm-7:30pm)
Robins’ Nest, Inc.
LOCATION: Masso’s Catering
210 South Delsea Drive
Glassboro, New Jersey

• Approximately 25 families participating in this year’s event for Robins’ Nest. These families represent all seven counties served by Robins’ Nest: Burlington, Cape May, Camden, Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem.

Wednesday, December 9 (5pm-8pm)
Family Connections
LOCATION: Community Charter School of Paterson
75 Spruce Street (cafeteria)
Paterson, New Jersey

• Approximately 10 families will be participating in this year’s event for Family Connections. All the families are from Passaic County.

Thursday, December 10 (4:30pm-7:30pm)
Family Service Association of Atlantic
LOCATION: Family Life Center
312 E. Whitehorse Pike
Absecon, New Jersey

• Approximately 15 families will be participating in this year’s event for Family Service Association of Atlantic. All the families are from Atlantic County.

Tuesday, December 15 (5pm-8pm)
The Drenk Center
LOCATION: Nottingham Ballroom
200 Mercer Street
Hamilton, New Jersey

• Approximately 25 families will be participating in this year’s event for the Drenk Center. These families will be from Mercer and Burlington Counties.

Wednesday, December 16 (5pm-8pm)
Family Connections
LOCATION: Reunity House
280 South Harrison Street (ground level)
East Orange, New Jersey

• Approximately 35 families will be participating in this year’s event for Family Connections. All families are from Essex County.

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