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November is Adoption Month read below about an 

I Make A Difference Moment one of our Adoption Worker’s had:

 “I received a new case in February of 2016. It sounded like an open-close case with no frills or challenges. I spoke with the potential adoptive parents shortly after being assigned the case. They were on vacation and I had to wait for their return in order to start the process.

A week and a half went by and I was able to meet the family. I showed up to our appointment still a newbie to the Adoption Field. I began the Adoption Orientation. I thought I had it in the bag until the potential adoptive parents threw a curve ball at me. They stated they were not sure they wanted to adopt the child in their home due to all of the potential opportunities for college she would lose if adopted. Sure they loved her and wanted her to stay with them, but in the back of their mind, they were worried about how she would grow into an adult and make something of herself. They signed the Intent to Adopt form after checking the box labeled “NOT interested in adopting.”  

The child was devastated. “I never thought they would do that. I just want to be adopted!” she cried as she laid her head down on the table and began to cry. This child did not have a relationship with me–after all, it was the first time I had met her. I felt so bad as the tears rushed down her face. I tried to console her the best I could as a stranger sitting at the table asking her foster parents to make a decision. I encouraged her to speak to her parents and share her feelings.

The next day I came to work and began working on the pros and cons of being adopted. I printed off multiple applications for grants, scholarships, and loan information for college. I reached out to the Michigan Department of Human Services and gathered as much information about the potential program that could help in preparation for my next visit with the family.

Two weeks went by due to the foster mother being out of town. I could not help but worry about this foster child and what she was thinking, what she was feeling, how was she coping with the foster parents’ decision not to adopt? When the date of the next visit finally came, I arrived with my binder overloaded with supporting documents, useful information, and applications. I went through each topic, resource, and provided the family with the applications that could assist this child after she was adopted. At the conclusion of my presentation, the foster parents looked at each other, smiled, and in unison said, “Where do we sign to adopt?” I provided a new Intent to Adopt and this time they checked the box with the intentions of adopting the child. They were so happy to see the extra work I put into making the future opportunities so clear for them. They were worried about the child missing out on resources that could help the child become successful.

I completed the adoption for the child a few days before Thanksgiving last year. They looked at me and noted they knew what they were thankful for that Thanksgiving. The entire courtroom was full of tears of joy.”