Jambalaya & Jazz, Foster Care, National Adoption Month, and more!

Adoption Option Inc. invites you to celebrate Adoption Awareness Month this November to honor the impactful work that is done by adoption workers as well as the joyous weaving together of loving adults and children into tight-knit, safe and nurturing families.

At Adoption Option Inc. our mission is to improve the lives of children and families through services such as adoption and foster care. Although Adoption Awareness Month highlights the need for permanent homes for children to grow and thrive, the need for temporary foster homes to support reunification is equally significant. The ultimate goal of the foster care system is to provide legal parents with the guidance, resources and education they need to overcome the barriers and challenges that led to their children entering foster care so that they can be reunified. Foster families provide a safe, supportive, and nurturing home for children, often in the most tumultuous time of their lives, playing a pivotal role in the journey home for children in foster care.

Join us today, Thursday, November 20th, at the Great Hall and Banquet Center for Jambalaya and Jazz to celebrate the success stories of both our foster care and adoption teams. During this event, guests will have the opportunity to hear from one of our Parent Partners as he talks about the power of love, the strength of family, and the role that foster care has had, not only on his personal life, but also on how he has been raised up to continue a legacy of improving the lives of children and families. Guests will also have the opportunity to hear from one of our adoptive families about the transformative impact that adoption has had on their lives and their family tapestry.

Foster Home Licensing

Adoption Option Inc, is authorized by the State of Michigan to help families who want to know more about how to become licensed foster homes. Our staff work with these families to gather the information required by the state. The Licensing workers are experienced and professional. They will assist you in completing the process of getting your home licensed.

Foster parents need to be committed and able to:

Work with the child’s birth parents.
Supportive of efforts to return the child home.
Able to work with children who have emotional and behavioral needs.
Able to encourage teens toward independent living.
Willing to provide a permanent home if necessary.

Open your heart and home. Learn how to become a licensed foster family by emailing fosterparent@aoicw.org.

Standing Beside Those Who Stand in the Gap: Supporting Foster Families Through Doubt and Renewal

The I Make A Difference Moment below is from our foster care licensing worker.

I feel like where I have made the most difference is the support I give to our foster families.

While it is always exciting to go out and recruit new foster families, I get even more excited when families who have already been licensed and have experienced the ups and downs of being a foster parent say yes to renewing their license.

I have had two newer foster parents this past month question whether they wanted to continue and stated that they were feeling like maybe they weren’t cut out for being foster parents after all. One sent me a text message saying “I’m not sure how I feel about keeping our license open. Is that normal?” I responded with “It is absolutely normal to feel that way, I have felt that way many times myself over the years as a foster parent! Parenting in general isn’t easy, and foster parenting is a whole other ball game!”

Another foster parent who had recently just became licensed and taken in 3 kids said “I just don’t think I can do this anymore.” I was able to reassure her and tell her that even though she may not see it in herself, we see how much they are doing for these kids, meeting the kids needs, advocating for them and giving them a safe place to call home when they need it the most. Read more.

Adoption Option Inc. Names Tamika Merriman Chief Administrator

Adoption Option Inc. is proud to share some exciting news! Our Chief Operating Officer, Tamika Merriman, has officially been named Chief Administrator of our organization’s license by the State of Michigan. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Child Welfare Licensing approved this appointment, recognizing Merriman’s proven leadership and dedication to children and families.

In her expanded role, Tamika will oversee the agency’s day-to-day operations, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. She will provide financial oversight, guide program development and evaluation, supervise staff, and strengthen relationships with government partners and community stakeholders.

Since joining AOICWO in March 2023, Merriman has distinguished herself as a compassionate leader and driver of operational excellence. She has streamlined processes, invested in staff development, and continuously improved the quality of care for families in the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond.

As both COO and Chief Administrator, Merriman will work closely with the current CEO, DeLois Leapheart, to shape and execute AOICWO’s vision, operational strategy, and growth plans.

By the Numbers: Children Waiting to Be Adopted

National statistics from the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

109,000 — As of September 30, 2022, nearly 109,000 children across the United States were waiting to be adopted.

1 in 5 — More than 20% of these children are teens, ages 13–17, hoping for a permanent family.

7.6 years — The average age of a child waiting to be adopted is just 7½ years old.

34.9 months — On average, children wait almost three years in care before being adopted.

This year’s theme for National Adoption Month is Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds. During National Adoption Month, the Children’s Bureau within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aims to raise awareness about adoption, highlight the need for adoptive families for teens in foster care, and emphasize the importance of lifelong connections.

Both the Children's Bureau, in partnership with Child Welfare Information Gateway and AdoptUSKids, offer a wealth of information on adoption, foster care and licensing. The Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) is a statewide program dedicated to finding adoptive families for youth in Michigan’s foster care system who are legally eligible for adoption.

Stay connected throughout the month to raise awareness by following #NationalAdoptionMonth on Facebook and Twitter.

Learn how to become a licensed foster family by clicking here.

| Adoption Option, Inc. | www.adoptionoptioninc.or g |

Office: 989.839.0534