March 2010 Caseworker of the Month
Anna McNamara
Bronx, New York
Anna McNamara, state program manager at Downey Side Families for Youth in New York, is our March Caseworker of the Month. She played an instrumental role in helping a single father with a complicated interstate adoption.
Reinier Prijtenof New York City, who nominated McNamara for the award, had to take a job overseas in the middle of the adoption process.
“It was a very stressful situation, and without Anna it would have made life a lot more complicated,” Prijten said.
Prijten found his son Devin, who was 13 and living in Texas, through AdoptUsKids. Up to that point, he had worked solely with the New York Council on Adoptable Children, which specialized in adoptions for children in the New York City foster care system. The agency referred McNamara to his case so she could assist with the interstate adoption process.
“I got a call from Anna at Downey Side who told me she adopted a child from Texas as well,” Prijten said. “’Texas?’ I replied! I did not know that Devin was from Texas."
Prijten said he was so consumed by the profiles of all the waiting children on AdoptUsKids he didn’t take note of where Devin lived. All that registered was Devin was the right kid for him.
“What followed was a complicated and time consuming out-of-state adoption process with many ups and downs,” Prijten said.
McNamara said the first time she met with Prijten she could tell he was nervous about the adoption and that he sincerely cared about what happened to Devin.
“Adoption only works when parents are 100 percent committed to their child, and I saw that commitment in Reinier,” McNamara said. "What a wonderful guy. I wish I had 10 of him. He's just a terrific dad who is so loving and caring."
Even when Prijten lost his job in banking due to the economic downturn, his first concern was Devin. The adoption still hadn’t been finalized, and one of the only job prospects he could find was in Europe. Prijten wasn’t keen on the idea of leaving New York, but said McNamara helped with what could have been a horrendous process.
“Aside from being a very practical help, she always puts in a tremendous amount of effort,” Prijten said. "She was able to make a list of things to do a little shorter."
McNamara said interstate adoptions don’t have to be difficult, and it just comes down to knowing what paperwork has to be done and making sure it’s done correctly.
"It’s a little pain in the neck, but it’s definitely worth it,” McNamara said. “To me, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing trust and hope come back into the eyes of a child who has lost their family and faith in life. Giving them back some of their childhood and knowing that I helped achieve that is the best part of my job.”
Prijten and his son Devin are now back in New York and remain in contact with McNamara.
“I called on her several times post adoption seeking help with a situation at home and she delivered. Being a single inexperienced young parent, it was extremely helpful to have someone walk me through this transition” Prijten said.
As for being nominated AdoptUsKids’ caseworker of the month, McNamara took it more as an honor for Downey Side than herself.
“We're a nonprofit and we've been hit hard with the economy to the point where I've had to take a pay cut to prevent layoffs. So this nomination means a lot to us,” McNamara said.
The nomination letter
As I was browsing through the various Internet sites to find a child that matched the profile of my home study, I saw Devin and chose him out of many others. A few days later I got a call from Anna at Downey Side who told me she adopted a child from Texas as well.
"Texas?” I replied! I did not know that Devin was from Texas! I have never been to Texas. I thought it was New York. I guess I should have looked at the address.
What followed was a complicated and time consuming out-of-state adoption process with many ups and downs. I had to move overseas in the middle of it all due to my job, and at the very last moment the judge in New York did not want to take the case.
Anna McNamara is the sate program manager with Downey Side in New York. She is an adoptive mother herself and has been an enormous resource to our family both during and after the adoption process. She truly committed to her promise that she would always be there to help me out after the adoption was finalized. I called on her several times post adoption seeking her help with a situation at home and she delivered. Once she drove to our home after a very long day out of state. Instead spending the evening with her husband and son, she extended her long day and came to our home to assist.
Anna has always been a great support in that process but also post adoption which is as important. Without her help and advice, we would not have been able to complete the process and give Devin a permanent home.
Reinier Prijten
New York, New York
Media who would like to interview McNamara, contact us at info@adoptuskids.org or 888-200-4005.
