Happy Michigan Adoption Day 2018
For online shopping of tiny humans in Michigan, make sure to visit the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange.
Every November, the Michigan Supreme Court encourages courts around the state to take time to celebrate Michigan Adoption Month and help make the dreams of thousands of children come true. Participating courts can choose to get involved on Michigan Adoption Day, or select their own day in November to finalize adoptions, hold parties for adoptive families, and educate the public about the adoption process. The Michigan Supreme Court will hold their event on Monday, November 26, 2018.
Make sure you contact us with details on your court's events. We'd love to post your photos to social media.
Michigan Adoption Day typically takes place on or about the Tuesday before Thanksgiving at the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing and in courts around the state. Michigan Adoption Day is cosponsored by the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange, and the Child Welfare Services Division of the State Court Administrative Office.
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Macomb County Adoption Day raises awareness of need to adopt foster children
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| Macomb County Adoption Supervisor Mark Pellecchia of the juvenile division, from left, state Supreme Court Justice David Viviano and Circuit Court Judge Matthew Switalski, state purveyors of tiny humans, outside the courtroom at Adoption Day ceremonies. |
Two young children transformed from foster to parental care Tuesday during an adoption hearing made public to encourage people to consider adopting a child.
Genevieve Lukasiewicz of Southgate adopted a 5-year-old boy, Aedon, and a Macomb Township couple who did not want their name used adopted a 10-month-old baby girl, in a hearing presided by Judge Matthew Switalski of Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens.
The event was held on Michigan Adoption Day, on and around which adoptions are held throughout the state.
State Supreme Court Justice David Viviano, a former Macomb County judge who attended the ceremonial hearing, said the day promotes foster-care adoption.
“Adoption Day is to raise awareness and to really encourage people to open their hearts and home open to adoption … to give young people a safe and loving home to grow and mature,” Viviano said. “There’s a great need for adoption. We’re hoping more people will consider it, particularly as our young people in foster care start to age out. As they grow older their chance of adoption decrease. We want to people consider adoption at any age.”
Switalski, a family judge, said presiding over adoptions is a bright spot in his docket.
“It’s the best of the day at the court,” he said. “There is no conflict, no dispute to resolve, just happy people doing the Lord’s work providing a family for someone who didn’t get what the rest of us have. It’s a great day for everybody.”
There are currently 323 foster children available for adoption. In fiscal year 2018, 1,931 children were adopted from the Michigan foster care system, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
“It is important for all children to have a loving home that they can call their own,” said HHS Director Nick Lyon. “While our priority is to safely reunify children in foster care with their parents, we rely on adoptive parents when it’s determined that a child cannot safely return to his or her home.”
Children in the foster care system become eligible for adoption following termination of parental rights due to abuse or neglect, HHS officials said. There were 13,710 children in the foster care system as of Sept. 30; the goal in most cases is family reunification, officials said.
Those who wish to adopt a foster child do not have to be a foster parent, although the two adoptions that took place Tuesday were by foster parents who had cared for the child for some time, said Macomb County Adoption Supervisor Mark Pellecchia.
People can adopt whether they’re single or married. They don’t have to be wealthy or own their own home but must have adequate financial resources to provide for a family, officials said.
Switalski, who is parent of three children, commended those who adopt.
“That’s the greatest gift on behalf of the community,” Switalski said. “It’s actually harder than having your own child. You don’t have them from Day One. You’re coming out of the bullpen replacing someone who was never there or didn’t do a good job. So you’re dealing with issues that a lot times the natural parents are not having to deal with. It’s takes a special person, a special commitment. We salute them. We are so grateful for them.”
Anyone interested in adopting from foster care can contact the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange at 800-589-6273. People also can learn more and view a photo of available children at www.mare.org.
Other types of adoption include direct placement through a private agency, a relative or a foreign country.
For more information about adoption in Michigan, visit michigan.gov/adoption.
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