Judge Martha D. Anderson
(Photo: Oakland County Circuit Court)

The Family Division of the Oakland County Circuit Court will host an Adoption Day event on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Oakland County Courthouse, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac. It is open to the public.

Lauran F. Howard, Chief of Adoptions & Juvenile Support Services, confirms that all of the Family Division judges will participate. In addition, Judge Martha D. Anderson will receive the Arthur Eugene Moore Champion of Children Award for her work on a special docket to assure more timely permanence for children.

Justice Maura D. Corrigan
(Photo: Michigan Supreme Court)

“Oakland County also was recognized with a Robert Weiss Award for the work of our Adoption Forum Group. The group includes persons from the Court, the DHS, CARE House, [and] private adoption agencies,” Howard said. “We created a special docket, new scheduling orders and generally improved the move from foster care to adoption for children whose parents' parental rights have been terminated. The group will be recognized on adoption day.”

The program also includes four families finalizing adoptions. There will be a celebration for the families, including gifts for newly adopted children and their new siblings. Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura D. Corrigan is also scheduled to attend.

Oakland County is one of 30 Michigan counties holding Adoption Day events on or near November 24, the date designated by the Michigan Supreme Court as “Michigan Adoption Day,” when about 225 adoptions will be finalized. The event is co-sponsored by the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Child Welfare Services division of the State Court Administrative Office.

Sources: Michigan Supreme Court, Oakland County Circuit Court Family Division