According to Sister Elizabeth Engel, assistant executivedirector of Downey Side, this agency is the most affordableadoption center in New Jersey and does not requirereligious affiliation.

Sister Engel, of Lakewood, has been assistant executivedirector of Downey Side for the past 25 years.

“We’ve been around a long time,” Sister Engel said, “Fiftyyears to be exact. We want to get kids out of foster care. It’sdisastrous.”

Sister Engel works alongside her brother, Father PaulEngel, who is the founder and executive director of theagency. Together, the duo operate from separate locations inan effort to find forever homes for minority children,physically challenged children, emotionally challengedchildren and sibling groups across the United States.

The nonprofit agency’s main office is headquartered inNew York City on West 71st Street under the direction ofFather Paul.

In 2000, the foundation branched into New Jersey, first inEwing, then to Point Pleasant and is now active in Sea Girton Philadelphia Blvd, operating out of St. Uriel’s Church.

“Our purpose is to find permanent families for thesechildren … The agency has placed over 8,000 children in 50years,” said Sister Engel.

According to Sister Engel, in some cases, foster childrenhave been abused, sexualized and maltreated.

“We are in the process of writing a book called ‘America'sYoungest Hostages,’ it's about foster kids,” she said, “A lot offoster parents, not all of them, but about 85 percent of them,are in it for the money. The book is a very accurate and trueanalysis of what foster care does to kids. ”

The book, written by Father Paul and Ian Kedulois, isexpected to come out Jan. 2018 and will be available atwww.downeyside.com.

HOW DOES THE ADOPTION PROCESS WORK?

“We don’t have the kids. The children are in foster careand we want to get them out of foster care, because DowneySide is very against foster care. Adoption and permanency isour goal for all these children,” said Sister Engel.

Prospective parents will first have a home studycompleted, which is a process of receiving their license toadopt. In this process background checks, finances andeven personal relationships will be investigated.

Once families are licensed, they are asked to visitAdoptUSkids.com, where they can view children in fostercare across the United States.

After a match is made, Downey Side works to bring thesechildren into their new family, where children will besupervised for six months by the agency to assure the homebest suits the happiness and safety of the child. When thesix months have passed and Downey Side feels the partieshave made a good connection, an adoption is finalized.

“We are hoping to place seven children from the NewJersey office by October, November. That's into fourdifferent families,” said Sister Engel.

To raise donations for the nonprofit, Downey Side hostsan annual gala each June. This year the foundationcelebrated their 14th gala and 50th Anniversary on June 22 atthe Crystal Point Yacht Club in Point Pleasant.

The celebration featured the appearance and words ofthree children who have previously been placed into homes.The reaction left not a single dry eye in the room.

“All these kids want is someone special in their life,” saidSister Engel.

SISTER ENGEL’S STORY

Elizabeth Engel grew up in the Bronx, New York as thethird oldest of seven siblings. Having lost her parents at anearly age, the family of seven took the responsibility ofraising one another.

At 20-years-old Ms. Engel became a Dominican Sister ofSt. Dominic’s Church in Blauvlet, New York.

As a nun, Sister Engel assisted caring for the children inSaint Dominic's Home, a human services agency that wasstarted in 1878.

Through this institution she met Lydia, a young girl whohad been in Saint Dominic’s since she was 3 years old.

“Lydia was a child at the home. There was no motherinvolved and the father could not speak English. I got toknow her when she was 12 or 13, and we became very close.She considers me her mother,” Sister Engel said.

Of the many children Sister Engel has helped, she saidLydia has become like her own child.

“She never was adopted because her parents rights werenever terminiated. Her biological father visited her until hisdeath when she was 17.”

Sister Engel is still in contact with Lydia to this day andeven attended her wedding in 2016, filling the position ofmother of the bride.

“I took care of many children who are now adults, and I'mstill in touch with several of them. I have quite a history,quite a history,” she said.

In 1967 Father Paul shared a similar experience.“A young boy named Brian came into the rectory at

church to be a priest. My brother asked him, ‘did you finishschool?’ He said ‘no’ he had to pay for a home,” said SisterEngel.

After learning this boy was living in a small room as ahome, Father Paul assisted him in finding a family of hisown.

Today, Brian fulfilled his goal as a Capuchin FransiccanBrother in Guam.

After this experience, Father Paul continued to meethomeless kids who did not have families.

“The kids ended up in jail,” said Sister Engel, “My brothersaw a need for permanency.”

With an idea to start an adoption agency of his own,Father Paul contacted his sister and Downey Side wascreated.

“For me [Downey Side] is really a fulfillment for who I amtoday … I wanted to help children who were homeless andDowney Side has certainly fulfilled that dream, because Ihave placed many children into families.”

To make a donation to the organization and to learn moreabout Downey Side, visit downeyside.org.

Alexa Carini can be reached at acarini@thecoaststar.com or 732-223-0076 Ext49

The Coast Star

PAGE 41PEOPLEOBITUARIES 42HOUSES OF WORSHIP 42EVENTS 48STREET BEAT 44

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

COURTESY OF SISTER ELIZABETH ENGEL

Sister Elizabth Engel and Father Paul Engel [top row, center] pose for a photo at a Downey Side fundraiser in Stowe, Vermont with members of two families who have adopted through the agency.

DOWNEY SIDE ADOPTION AGENCY — PLACING OVER 8,000 CHILDREN IN 50 YEARS

owney Side adoption agency, located in Sea

Girt, is unlike many agencies in New Jersey. The

24 hour nonprofit organization specializes in

placing older children and children with special

needs into families.

BY ALEXA CARINITHE COAST STAR

Helping children infoster care find homes

“All these kids want is someonespecial in their life.”

“Downey Side is very against fostercare. Adoption and permanency is our

goal for all these children ”

“Our purpose is to find permanentfamilies for these children ... the

agency has placed over 8,000 kids in50 years.”

SISTER ELIZABETH ENGEL Executive Assistant of Downey Side

THE ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1967 BY FATHER PAUL ENGEL

D