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November 15, 2022
A Home for the Holidays: Ottawa Celebrates Adoption Day
Courts host Adoption Day Celebration on November 22
The holiday to give thanks is upon us and the importance of family is top of mind. Families come together in many of ways, one of which, is adoption. Recognized nationally since 1995 and statewide since 2002, November is Adoption Month. Locally, the 20th Circuit and Ottawa County Probate Courts celebrate Adoption Day alongside the Michigan Supreme Court on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. To honor this tradition, the Court will host its twentieth event in hopes it will inspire some to open their hearts and homes to consider foster care and adoption.
With great joy, the Court will kick off what is warmly known as the "happiest day at the court" with a brief ceremony on Tuesday, November 22 at 9:00am. Confirmation hearings presided by Chief Probate Court Judge, Mark A. Feyen and Family Division Judge, Kent D. Engle, will follow. All events will take place at the Fillmore Complex in West Olive.
Please join us in celebrating the families who choose to open their hearts to these children and provide them with their forever home.
Local and State Adoption Facts:
- In fiscal year 2022, more than 1,600 Michigan children were adopted through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or private agencies.
- At any given time, there are approximately 10,300 children in Michigan's foster care system and of those, nearly 250 children are in need of a forever family through adoption.
- 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: https://www.mare.org/.
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