The Michigan Supreme Court last Friday, June 17, hosted its first in-person Michigan Reunification Day celebration in Lansing since before the pandemic to spotlight the efforts of judges, court staff, child welfare professionals, and especially moms and dads who are working toward family reunification. The court was joined by representatives of the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS), the Michigan Federation for Children & Families, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Tribal Court, and Van Buren County Circuit Court.
Reunification Day is about recognizing parents whose rights have been terminated and have worked with the court system and local agencies to have their rights restored so they can be reunited with their children.
“The beauty of reunification lies in the courage to recognize the power of second chances, and every year, at our Reunification Day celebration, we hear heartwarming stories of successful second chances,” said Justice Elizabeth T. Clement, MSC co-liaison on child welfare issues. “This is why courts are invested in helping families, and reunification is the ultimate form of court-community engagement because courts are helping to make families—our friends and neighbors who are struggling—whole again, which makes communities stronger.”
According to MDHHS, in 2021 more than 5,500 children left foster care. Almost half of all foster children reunite with their families, almost a third attain permanence through adoption, and less than a quarter exit foster care in other ways, such as by reaching the age of majority, entering adult foster care, or living with relatives.
Demetrius Starling, executive director of the MDHHS Children’s Services Agency, said, “Our goal is to keep families together and for those families who experience a removal, to reunite those families as quickly and safely as possible.”
Special guests included Van Buren County Judge Jeffrey Dufon, who brought several local families to share their own inspiring stories. Justices Megan K. Cavanagh and Clement presented Dufon with a court resolution honoring the work of Van Buren County Courts in family reunification.
“Families who continue to persevere in the face of extreme hardship to bring their children home are to be commended for their hard work and ‘never-give-up’ attitude,” said Cavanagh, the court’s co-liaison on child welfare issues. “When courts and social service professionals work together to help children, we can do amazing things, including rebuilding families and supporting them so they can stay together forever.”
Michigan is one of 32 states that typically hold festivities as part of the American Bar Association’s observance of National Reunification Month held annually in June.
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