Dear Senator Clinton,
It deeply pains me to know that in this technologically advanced world we live in, there has been little to no progress when it comes to the foster care system and the adoption of the children in foster care.

A little over one year ago I notified Suffolk County department of social services that I am very interested in adopting a little boy that had been a ward of the state since birth. He was abandoned by his birth Mom since day one. He is now 1 year and 5 months old, His first name is Trent. My husband and I adopted Trent's sister 7 years ago through the Suffolk County foster care system. Both children have been diagnosed with Velocardiofacial syndrome, the umbrella term for many sub-diagnosies including cardiac, immunological concerns, cleft palate, and many other medical anomalies within that umbrella.

We all know the importance of that critical first year of life, and the continuity of parental care. Little Rosina came to us at just 3.5 months old. prior to being placed in our home she also had been hospitalized since birth. To date, at 9 yrs old she still displays residual behavior from the institutional setting. We desperately wanted to spare Trent from as much residual institutional behavior as possible. Here it is over one year and the adoption process is just now getting started. It could be another 3-4 months or longer before he actually comes to join our family.

Senator Clinton, I am begging you to put an end to this madness. Our children are very very important to our future. The adoption process needs to be examined with a fine tooth comb and revised so we can place the children in their forever home as fast as possible promoting optimal growth and development. Continuity of parental care and the nurturing must began as early in life as possible which will promote the next generation of healthy, responsible and self-supporting adults. It should not take well over one year for this particular adoption given the facts that surround it!

I personally know others that have had similar situations with attempting to adopt through the foster care system , and i am sure there are many many others that i don't know about

I am writing to you Senator Clinton because I know if any one person could fix this problem, it would be you. I admire your commitment to family.
Once again I am BEGGING you to to look deeply into the adoption process of all foster children.

Thank you for taking the time to read my e-mail Sondra Morgan at NUURSE@AOL.COM