New member Lori Gabriel Petschauer is inducted by Pres. Paul Newell.
Pres.-Elect Dave Brown reads Rev. Al Acer's Litany of Expectations to Lori.
Retta Schwartzstein (R) presents Lori with Rotary pin.
Pres. Paul presents a Rotary mug to Kara Johantgen thanking her for her presentation.
Speaker: Kara Johantgen,MSW - N.J. Department of Children and Families
Kara described the functions and scope of the agency. There are 6,000 agents divided among the N.J counties. Presently Monmouth county is tracking 500 families. The function of the agency is to protect, provide safe shelter and health care for at risk children via adoption or foster care. Special needs children are included. The agency intervenes with families when perilous situations are reported. The children are placed with relatives or vetted caring families before formal foster care or adoption is concluded. This year 155 children were placed in foster care. Half of these were placed with relatives. Another 86 children were placed for full adoption. The vetting process for full adoption is 5 months. This year the need for care has decreased. For more information call 1-877 NJ Foster or www.njfoster.org also 1-800 99 ADOPT or www.njadopt.org.