Statement of Sonya Merrill, Mental Health Professional,
Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation and Direct Care
(Adoptive Parent and Recipient of Post-Adoption Services, South Norwalk, Connecticut)

Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Human Resources
of the House Committee on Ways and Means

Hearing on the Promoting Safe and Stables Families Program

May 10, 2001

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources.

I am Sonya Merrill. I am a mental health professional with the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation and Direct Care. I am a licensed foster care provider. And today I am something more: an adoptive mother of three girls, ages 5 through 12.

In 1995, Casey Family Services asked me if I would be able to care for four foster children: three sisters and their brother. I know sibling groups are normally difficult to place together. In fact, other attempts to find a suitable foster home for these children had not been successful. So, when Casey Social Worker Mary Harris Miller pleaded with me to take them in, I said, "I'll try.'"

Shequoia, Patricia and Seima have been with me ever since. Their brother Joseph chose to live with his paternal grandmother, but I make sure the children stay in touch. Casey guidelines call for working with the birth family.

My adoption of the girls became final in January of this year. Throughout the process and to this day, I have taken advantage of just about every service that Casey offers. The treatment programs, for example, are particularly helpful because they are designed for children with severe psychological, emotional, physical or behavioral needs. And all my children have needs; they were born addicted.

I've used Casey's after-school enrichment programs, and the respite care has proven a godsend. I do need respite. I've taken part in a lot of the foster parenting support groups, and we've had a physician come in and serve, as needed, as a liaison with the birth parents.

Knowing that the Casey support team and services would always be there for me made a huge difference in my decision to adopt. I'm a single parent, and if the services Casey provides were not extended to me once I had adopted the children, I know that I could not adequately have taken care of these kids. The children need tutorial sessions and a counselor; I could not afford those services on my own. Sometimes the medical bills are astronomical. It is so important for families like ours to know we can find help when we need it. The average person cannot cope with their needs by themselves.

It was Casey Family Services that brought us together. It's Casey that supports us and keeps reinforcing that support. We think of the social workers as part of our family. We eat together. We laugh together. We cry together. We work out problems together.

I am very aware that we are fortunate that the services that Casey provides are available to us. But we should not be the exception. I believe that every adoptive family should have the same opportunities that my daughters and I have had to cope with the challenges before them.