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Michigan Supreme Court finalizes multiple adoptions at 23rd annual Adoption Day
Summary
At the Michigan Supreme Court’s 23rd Adoption Day, Eaton County Probate Judge Amanda Pollard finalized adoptions for Jackson Grant Adams (case 25‑3678‑AF) and two children in the Wooley family (cases 25‑3694‑AM and 25‑3695‑AM). Court leaders and state child‑welfare officials highlighted supports and post‑adoption services.
Chief Justice Megan Kavanaugh opened the 23rd annual Michigan Adoption Day in the Hall of Justice, calling it “definitely the best day here in our court” as judges, agency leaders and families gathered to finalize adoptions and celebrate permanency.
Eaton County Probate Judge Amanda Pollard presided over the formal proceedings. In the matter of Jackson Grant Adams (case file 25‑3678‑AF), Timothy Howard Adams and Lori Ann Adams confirmed their consent and the court found that the necessary orders and parental‑rights determinations were on file. Judge Pollard granted immediate confirmation of adoption and named the couple the child’s legal parents.
Pollard then called matters for Lila and Autumn (case files 25‑3694‑AM and 25‑3695‑AM). After reviewing the records, the court found petitions and required orders had been filed and concluded the adoptions, congratulating Lila Wooley and Monalisa (Monalisa/Monalisa Wooley in the record) Wooley as legal parents.
The court presented certificates and small gifts to families and allowed lighthearted moments — children chose teddy bears, posed for photographs and, in one instance, were invited to bang the gavel to mark the day.
State child‑welfare leaders used the celebration to underscore ongoing needs and available supports. Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, told the audience that “about 1,800 children” in Michigan’s foster care system have adoption as their goal and that department efforts and partners helped find forever families for “about 1,400 children” last fiscal year. Hertel described statewide programs including adoption resource consultants, expanded adoption assistance and post‑adoption services aimed at supporting families after finalization.
Janet Reynolds Snyder of the Michigan Federation for Children and Families and Demetrius Starling, senior deputy director for the Children’s Services Administration at MDHHS, emphasized partnerships across all 83 counties, the role of private adoption agencies (Starling cited 47 such agencies), and the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) as a tool for connecting families with children in foster care.
The celebration was largely ceremonial but carried legal finality for the families involved: judges recorded findings that enabled guardianships to be closed and parental rights to be confirmed. The court encouraged families to use post‑adoption resources and invited attendees to refreshments and family activities after the program.
The Adoption Day program concluded with thanks to caseworkers, judges and agency partners and a reminder that the courts and child‑welfare system continue to work on supports to help families thrive after adoption.
