How the Coalition Helps Families

Rosa*, a foster parent, needed some advice about how she could adopt Monica*, age eight, and Louisa*, age six. 

She had a good relationship with the girls’ mother, Diana*, but Diana could not parent due to her mental health issues. The girls’ father had abandoned them several years ago.

Adopting would not be simple. It required filing abandonment proceedings against the father. Diana would either have to conditionally surrender her daughters or a court would have to legally terminate her parental rights. Rosa primarily spoke Spanish and had no funds for legal counsel.

Coalition staff arranged a meeting with Rosa and a Spanish-speaking case manager. The goal was to enable Rosa to understand the process. Next, we reached out on social media to our network of local parent support groups and professionals.

Rebecca*, a family law attorney, responded to our call for help. She agreed to represent Rosa pro-bono. Rebecca noted the important work the Coalition does and said she wanted to “pay it forward.” Rosa now has proper legal direction. Monica and Louisa, whose legal status as immigrants left them vulnerable to possible deportation from the only country they have known, will now have a permanent, stable adoptive parent and secure legal status.


The Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York provides support, information and advocacy for foster, kinship and adoptive families and related professionals in New York State. Founded in the 1960s and incorporated in 1975, we provide services to help support families and their children. We educate the public, legislators and government leaders about the needs and realities of foster, kinship and adoptive families. Finally, we collaborate with child welfare agencies and other groups to ensure that families are best able to support and parent the children in their homes.

*All stories are based on true events, names and personal details have been changed to protect identity.