November 13, 2006

LANSING - Michigan will celebrate adoptive families and efforts to place children in adoptive homes at the fourth annual Michigan Adoption Day on November 21. The event, which is poised to be the nation's largest Adoption Day event for the fourth year in a row, is cosponsored by the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS), the Michigan Supreme Court, and the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE).

Along with the special celebrations on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has proclaimed November as Adoption Month in Michigan and the Supreme Court has issued a resolution declaring that November 21 is Michigan Adoption Day. Local courts, DHS county offices and private adoption agencies from across Michigan are collaborating on events that will include finalizing adoptions and parties for adoptive families. Some counties will hold informational open houses with speakers and information about the adoption process.

"Adoptive families have made a loving decision that will pay dividends now and in the future," Granholm said. "There is nothing more precious than the growth and development of our youths, who will determine the future direction of our state."

DHS Director Marianne Udow said: "Michigan Adoption Day is one of the most joyous days of the year with children and adults celebrating the choice of love and to become part of a forever family. Our new Family to Family approach to foster children creates a tremendous need for foster and adoptive parents in all communities. Adoption Day provides tangible proof of the joy that forever families create."

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor said that the day should also serve as a reminder of "the many other children who still need permanent homes. For their sakes, we need many more Adoption Days. We hope this event will inspire many good candidates to serve as adoptive and foster parents."

While DHS and state courts strive to reunite children with their birth parents, doing so is not always in the child's best interest. Courts may terminate parental rights in cases of child abuse and neglect. There are more than 6,100 children whose birth parents rights have been terminated. About 4,400 of these children have adoption as part of the child's permanency plan. Many of them have special needs as the result of physical, mental or emotional impairments. Many children who are waiting for a family are older, members of minorities, or have siblings. In fiscal year 2005, 2,883 children with special needs were adopted.