LINCOLN PARK — The Michigan Children’s Law Center will sponsoring a foster parenting and adoption information meeting at 7 p.m. at Bethel Assembly of God Church, 2984 Fort St.
The Lincoln Park Ministerial Association and Exchange Club of Lincoln Park also will co-sponsor the meeting, “Foster Parenting and Adoption: A New Beginning for Abused and Neglected Children.”
The event will provide information to people who may be thinking about becoming foster or adoptive parents.
Admission is free; refreshments will be served.
Wayne County Juvenile Court Judge Christopher Dingell, state Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor) and state Rep. Paul Clemente (D-Lincoln Park) will join adoption and foster care specialists, and child attorneys to discuss the rules and procedures for becoming licensed and approved foster and adoptive parents.
Foster and adoptive parents also will be present to talk about their experiences. All of the panelists will be available to answer questions.
“The forum is being held because the Children’s Law Center believes that safe, stable, nurturing and loving foster care placements are critical in providing new beginnings and opportunities for abused and neglected children who cannot be returned to their biological parents,” said Fred Gruber, executive director of the Michigan Children’s Law Center.
“At this time, there are at least 300 children in Michigan waiting to be adopted, and there is a need to find more than 300 new foster homes,” Gruber said. “There is a correlation here because many foster parents become the adoptive parents of children placed in their care.
“Every foster child needs and deserves to have a happy and healthy childhood. Foster and adoptive parents often give these children a second chance at childhood.”
The Michigan Children’s Law Center is a group of attorneys who represent children in neglect and delinquency cases in Wayne County Juvenile Court. The website is www.miclc.org.
For more information, call Gruber at 734-281-1900.