Michigan's Family Independence Agency and contracted adoption agencies helped 2,610 children move into permanent homes in Fiscal Year 2003, the period from October 2002 to September 2003. These are children that were removed from their family homes because of abuse and neglect and whose parents lost their legal rights to parent the children.

"Through the efforts of FIA staff and private adoption agencies, thousands of at-risk children have been placed in permanent loving homes," said FIA director Marianne Udow. "These are children that were permanently removed from their birth homes because of verified abuse and neglect. They are now placed again with permanent loving families."

The FIA exclusively represents the interests of state wards-children who were removed from their birth home for abuse or neglect and whose parents have legally surrendered or otherwise lost their parental rights. A county Family Court finalizes each adoption for a state ward. The FIA does not provide private or international adoption services.

Most children that enter Michigan's foster care system have a goal to return to their birth families. However, children placed in adoption have their parental rights terminated and cannot return to their birth home. During FY 2003 there were 2,980 new state wards in Michigan - children permanently removed from their family because of abuse and neglect.

See the chart below for trend information on adoptions and state wards under FIA management: