National Adoption Day creates new families; 7 adoptions finalized in Washtenaw County
From left: Ann Arbor resident Christopher Kim became the legal father to his wife Judie Kim's 18-year-old daughter Jennifer Kim, right, who is holding her 2-year-old niece Michalina Patrus during Adoption Day at the Washtenaw County Courthouse.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
At any given moment, about 3,800 children are in foster care in Michigan, waiting to be adopted.
For seven children, the wait for a permanent family ended today during formal adoption proceedings at the Washtenaw County Courthouse.
The normally private hearings were made public for National Adoption Day to demonstrate the importance of and need for adoptive parents in the state, said Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly, who presided over the hearings.
Autumn Wares, 7, wore pigtails and a multi-colored dress for the important occasion. Her grandmother, Susan Wares of Ypsilanti, adopted her today, a few months after adopting Autumn's two younger brothers, Jaylin Wares, 5, and Ty Wares, 2.
"It feels wonderful," Susan Wares said, while waiting with her family for their turn in court. "I've always believed in (adoption)."
Susan Wares said she had two biological children and adopted a daughter in the '80s, who is the biological mother of her grandchildren — now adopted children.
"Even if these weren't my grandkids, you just do it. They need homes," she said. "How can you not adopt a child who needs somebody?"
Monica Hicks, a Washtenaw County Trial Court adoption case worker, said while about 3,800 Michigan children need to be adopted at any given time, about 15,000 are in foster care in Michigan overall.
From September 2009 to September 2010, Michigan finalized 3,030 adoptions — the most adoptions from foster care ever completed in the state in a single year, Hicks said.
Those adopted at the courthouse today ranged in age from 5 months to 18 years. Some were adopted by relatives, others by people they didn't know prior to the adoption process.
Nationally, 4,800 children from foster care were adopted during similar ceremonies today.
Royal Oak residents Amanda Cassidy, left, and husband Daniel sit in the courthouse for the adoption hearing for 5-month-old Kennedy.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
"Those of us who grew up in a home with loving, caring adults, we take that for granted," Judge Donald Shelton said to the court before finalizing Autumn Wares' adoption.
Shelton told the crowd during a reception after all of the adoptions had been finalized that he has two adopted children.
Husband and wife Dan Cassidy and Amanda Cassidy of Royal Oak adopted 5-month-old Kennedy Cassidy. Kennedy Cassidy's biological mother, who chose to do an open adoption, also was there.
"We're just happy, of course, and excited that everyone is here to celebrate with us," Amanda Cassidy said after the adoption was finalized, with Kennedy Cassidy in her arms. "We're grateful for Lauren (Wright, Kennedy Cassidy's biological mother)."
Asked what inspired them to adopt, Amanda Cassidy replied, "Just wanting to be parents."
She encouraged people to consider open adoption.
"It's not as scary as people think it is," she said. "You get to have more family to share everything with, and more people that love Kennedy."
Wright, of Dexter, said she chose to do an open adoption so she could remain a part of Kennedy Cassidy's life.
"Just so that we can stay in her life and stay active and watch her grow up," she said.
Jennifer Kim, 18, of Ann Arbor, was adopted Tuesday by her mother's husband, Christopher Kim.
"I've always considered him my dad," Kim said. "It's a relief."
Christopher Kim recalled being present at his adopted daughter's birth.
"I always wanted to adopt her, but there were always roadblocks," he said. "Just keep on trying, there's always a way to get to the point that you want to be."
Hicks said she hopes to clear up some common misconceptions about adoption. She said many children waiting to be adopted are "really good kids," and there's almost no cost to adopt a child through the state of Michigan.
"I would ask that people keep their hearts open and consider adopting," she said. "Especially this time of year, there's a lot of kids out there that don't have families."
- Learn about some of the children who are waiting to be adopted here.
Heather Lockwood is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heatherlockwood@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.
Comments
Elaine F. Owsley
Wed, Nov 24, 2010 : 5:49 p.m.
So many children need a family. What a wonderful event to read about. To borrow from Tiny Tim "God bless them, every one."
eom
Wed, Nov 24, 2010 : 1:07 p.m.
Top Cat - Why? And, it's not possible a LOT of the time, so what then?
Top Cat
Wed, Nov 24, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.
Children should have a mother and a father. It is not always possible. But it should be the first priority for the placement of a child up for adoption.
Jenna
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 10:03 p.m.
I agree with everyone about the unfortunate red tape for any non "traditional" adoption arrangement. While I'm not very up to speed on these issues specific to Michigan, I do hope that by the time I am ready to begin exploring adoption that they are no longer even an issue. Right now, I'm single and 26. I've spent almost a year and a half fostering dogs and I love it, but I've taken a time out to get my life back in order after two layoffs in one year. Fostering is just something in my heart and as soon as my personal and my family's lives smooth themselves out, I will find myself back at it. But I know in the back of my mind that I'm going to get myself together enough that I will explore adopting children in the future. Right now, at this point in life, I'm not positive I want kids, but I know that if I ever have children of my own, they will absolutely be adopted. So congratulations to everyone who got to celebrate today and good luck to those (even a friend of mine in another county) who continue to go through all the work- the love, the tears to get to this happy day. Thank you all for doing what you do :)
Roadman
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 9:47 p.m.
@Bamwow: Washtenaw County used to be the only one of 83 counties in Michigan that allowed single couples to adopt. Judges Nancy Francis and Donald Shelton routinely granted such adptions based on their interpretation of Michigan law. In 2002, Chief Judge Archie Brown, an Engler appointee with strong GOP ties, receiving heat from then-Chief Justice Maura Corrigan assigned all pending adoption cases to himself and dismissed those adoption petitions. Archie Brown's "bold" actions made the New York Times and his dismissals were held up in Court. The LGBT community lacked the political clout locally to organize in 2004 and 2010 to get a "Dump Archie Brown" movement off the ground.
Ann English
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 9:33 p.m.
I wish the best for the new adopted children. Be careful, parents, who their companions are. A child raised right can be corrupted by a bad friend, and become alienated from an adoptive parent or guardian. One fictional story I listened through last year on compact disc told of a boy following in the footsteps of one of his teachers, instead of his father's, because that teacher spent more time with him than his own father did. Not that the teacher was a bad influence; he really wasn't. Something else for parents to be diligent about.
eom
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 9:17 p.m.
Apparently, it's not enough to have two people (or even one!) LONGING to be parents with stable incomes, loving and caring family surrounding them, and the desire to help children who need parents. I'm guessing NONE of the children out there in need of being adopted are being super specific about WHO adopts them...they don't give a rip if it's a mom and dad, they just want a family. And to be loved and cared for. I don't get it either bamwow.
bamwow
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 8:48 p.m.
It's unfortunate that across the nation, my gay friends are unable to adopt children who need loving homes. That doesn't make any sense to me.