HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Ottawa County’s 20th Circuit Court will host an Adoption Day celebration on Nov. 23. But this year’s plans will be altered to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The 9 a.m. ceremony will include confirmation hearings with Chief Probate Court Judge, Mark A. Feyen. The in-person event will limit capacity due to social distancing but will be live streamed on YouTube.
In making the announcement, court officials noted during this fiscal year, 1,600 Michigan children were adopted through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or private agencies.
Among the 11,000 children in Michigan’s foster care system, which aims at reuniting children with their biological families, nearly 200 lack an identified adoptive family.
People can adopt whether they are single or married, and must have adequate financial resources to provide for a family, which doesn’t include being a home owner or being wealthy, according to the court statement.
Children being fostered can be adopted after parent rights are terminated for abuse or neglect.
About 95 percent of children available for adoption qualify for assistance to help families with some of the costs of expanding their family though adoption. Details are online via the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange: mare.org.
While adoptions are typically completed without public fanfare, Adoption Day allows courts to celebrate the process publicly. This year, more than 30 courts statewide are expected to participate, as a way of encouraging people to consider adoption.
Allegan County Probate and Family Court Judge Michael Buck typically celebrates Adoption Day on the afternoon of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which this year is Nov. 24.
“The Court has not received any interest by any families to participate at this time, so nothing is planned for this year,” wrote Alicia Blik, judicial secretary to Judge Buck wrote in response to WHTC’s inquiry. “The State has expanded adoption day to November as Michigan Adoption Month. Judge Buck has finalized one adoption so far this month and hopes to add more if they fall within the proper timeline guidelines and the court docket allows.”
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