According to Michigan Health and Human Services (HHS), roughly 3,000 children in the Michigan foster care system are available for adoption at any given time. If you have a loving home and an open heart ready to help a child in need, there are several resources dedicated to facilitating the adoption process.
Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange
Funded by HHS, the Michigan Adoptions Resource Exchange (MARE) is a great place to start when considering adoption. You can view listings of children awaiting adoption and read in-depth profiles to understand better who the children are and how they might fit with your existing family structure.
Adoption navigators, or parents who have already gone through the adoption process, can answer your questions and help you understand what to expect.
Once you are approved for adoption, you’ll be added to the MARE database. From there, you can join the Waiting Families page and add your story to the Family Registry page, accessible only by licensed Michigan adoption workers.
You can also attend MARE meet-and-greet events to interact with children awaiting adoption and gain a deeper understanding of their personalities, rather than relying solely on profile data. Post-adoption resources, such as the Match Support Program, help ensure a smooth transition for families and promote long-term success.
Judson Center
The Judson Center is dedicated to supporting children and adults, particularly those facing health challenges, neglect, or abuse, in achieving loving families and supportive communities.
Extended family members or foster parents adopt many children. The Judson Center’s Child Safe Adoption Program helps remaining children find placement with loving families.
To join, you must attend an orientation, submit an adoption application, attend free training, and complete a home assessment. From there, the organization partners with MARE to provide access to listings of adoptable children. Your adoption worker assists you in finding a suitable match.
CCSEM
Catholic Charities Southeast Michigan (CCSEM) can be a valuable resource for families interested in adopting. The organization assists with the adoption process, including licensing, in-home studies for adoptive parents, adoption searches, and informational classes. CCSEM also helps match families and children, providing guidance and resources to support lasting success.
AdoptUSKids
Michigan families struggling to find a good match in the state can turn to national resources, such as AdoptUSKids, which connects children in foster care throughout the U.S. with families looking to adopt. However, there are a couple of things you should be aware of.
The median age of children is eight, so if you’re looking for a newborn, this may not be the best option. Also, you may be required to gain approval to foster (in addition to being approved to adopt) before a child can be placed in your home.
You don’t have to agree to foster a child if your goal is adoption, but you may be asked to promote first, depending on the child’s legal status or if you have little or no parenting experience.
Partner With an Experienced Family Law Firm
The process of adopting a child can be lengthy and complex. While there are many resources to help you, it’s best to consult with a qualified and caring family lawyer to learn about your options and get all your legal ducks in a row.
Contact Gucciardo Family Law today to schedule a consultation and start the legal process of adopting a child.
