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November 16, 2023
A Home for the Holidays: Ottawa Celebrates Adoption Day
Courts to host Adoption Day celebration on November 21
At this time of thanksgiving, we show gratitude for the love of our families, particularly those created by adoption. Recognized nationally since 1995 and statewide since 2002, November is Adoption Month. Locally, the 20th Judicial Circuit and Ottawa County Probate Courts will celebrate Adoption Day alongside the Michigan Supreme Court on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. To honor this tradition, the Court will host its event to inspire others to open their hearts and homes to consider foster care and adoption.
With great joy, the Court will kick off one of its favorite events with a brief ceremony on Tuesday, November 21 at 8:30 a.m. The program will feature a resolution from the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and remarks from Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth M. Welch. Confirmation hearings presided by Chief Probate Court Judge Mark A. Feyen and Family Division Judges Kent D. Engle and Paul F. Kraus will follow. All events will take place at the Family Court in West Olive.
In fiscal year 2023, more than 1,600 Michigan children were adopted through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or private agencies. However, at any given time, there are approximately 10,000 children in Michigan’s foster care system and of those, nearly 250 children are in need of a forever family through adoption. Please join us in celebrating the families who choose to open their hearts to these children and provide them with their forever home.
As stated by Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement of the Michigan Supreme Court, “Adoption Day is about creating new families and the security and permanence they give to children. It's about opening homes, but more importantly, opening hearts to children. We commend all foster and adoptive parents, brothers and sisters, the Department of Health and Human Services, and our private agency partners."[i] The 20th Judicial Circuit Court and the Ottawa County Probate Court look forward to continuing to bring families together in joy and adoption at this year’s event.
Local and State Adoption Fast Facts:
- Typically, adoptions are finalized in private, but on Adoption Day, more than 30 courts statewide are expected to host events, to raise awareness and to inspire more families to think about adoption.
- People can adopt whether they are single or married. They do not have to be wealthy or own their own home but must have adequate financial resources to provide for a family.
- Children in the foster care system become eligible for adoption following termination of parental rights due to abuse or neglect. The goal for most children in the foster care system is reunification with their families.
- There is support for families who want to adopt. In fact, approximately 95 percent of children who are available for adoption qualify for assistance to help families with some of the costs of bringing children into their homes. More information is available at the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange website:Â https://www.mare.org/.
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