At Pathways, MI, we understand that the decision to terminate parental rights and move towards Adoption is one with a lifelong impact for the children involved and is therefore not a decision to be taken lightly. However, once that decision is made, we believe that placement planning must begin immediately. Our trained and compassionate staff members understand this and are committed to considering every factor and issue that may impact a child’s placement for adoption.

Pathways, MI Adoption program focuses on children in foster care who have been released for adoption. This includes children in the Pathways, MI Foster Care program, as well as those in placement through other agencies across the State of Michigan.

When a child is released for adoption, Pathways, MI initiates a Child Assessment, which includes a comprehensive medical, psychosocial and developmental evaluation.No child is placed for adoption until this process is completed and a profile of the appropriate adoptive family is identified. This process includes an Adoptive Family Assessment, which is a comprehensive evaluation of the potential adoptive family and their willingness and capacity to provide an adoptive home for a child. This includes marital and family status, education and employment history, substance abuse or mental health history, approach to discipline, and parenting skills.

Placement efforts will focus on placing a child with an approved family that best meets the needs of the child(ren) as identified in the Adoption Evaluation process. This includes an evaluation of a number of factors, including but not limited togeographic location, physical/emotional/developmental needs of the child, placement with siblings, continuity of current relationships, cultural sensitivity, religious preference, and any specialized needs identified in the Adoption Evaluation. Depending on the child’s age, his or her wishes are also considered in making a decision about adoptive placement.

Foster parents wishing to adopt a child in their care will be considered first, particularly if a significant relationship has developed for the child and the child has resided with the foster parents for one year or longer. If you are interested in being approved as a potential Adoptive parent, you might want to explore becoming a Licensed Foster Parent. This can potentially put you in a position to be more qualified as an adoptive placement.

In every case, adoptive placements are to be made in the best interest of the child.The focus of placing children for adoption is ALWAYS to find a home and family for a child, not to find a child for a family.