[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21165]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF BILL AND MARGURITE ADDISON

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                     HON. C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2005

  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, William and Margurite Addison are a 
wonderful couple who have provided a permanent home for five children 
who were part of the State foster care system. Although the Addisons 
had thought their childrearing years were finished when their own 
biological children had become young adults (Ms. Addison has four 
biological children, ranging in age from 34 to 41, and Mr. Addison has 
two birth children, ages 29 and 35), they opened their home to one of 
Mr. Addison's nephews, Ralph, (now age 17) in 1992. The Addisons became 
approved foster parents for Ralph in 1994 and subsequently decided to 
open their home to non-relative foster children when they realized how 
many children were in desperate need of out-of-home care.
  In 1998, the Addisons were approved as an adoptive resource for Ralph 
and their adoption was subsequently finalized that year. However, that 
was only the first of what ultimately became five adoptions. In 1999, 
Malik (now age 9) was adopted, Kevin (now age 3), was adopted in 2000, 
Warren (now age 6) was adopted in 2003, and Bryleigh (now age 3) was 
adopted in 2004. Except for Ralph, each of these children had come to 
the Addison home via the foster care system as drug-exposed infants 
(none of them are related). In addition, Warren suffers from sickle-
cell anemia, as well as emotional/behavioral difficulties. Ralph has 
received special education services in school and it is likely Warren 
will also need a special school setting.
  Mr. Addison is an educator and administrator at the Regional 
Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA), which is a State-run 
facility for emotionally handicapped youngsters. In addition, he has 
facilitated anger management groups at the House of Ruth (a shelter for 
victims of domestic violence) or men who have a history of domestic 
violence.
  Ms. Addison was a former truant officer for the public school system 
and has been active in supporting other adoptive families by developing 
an adoption support group for families that have adopted through the 
Baltimore City Department of Social Services. Although the support 
group is no longer active, she continues to support approved 
prospective adoptive families who are currently waiting to be matched 
with a child who needs a home.

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