Nominate an Outstanding Adoptive Family



In honor of National Adoption Month this November, the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are excited to celebrate 30 outstanding adoptive families by granting 30 wishes in 30 days.

Nomination Overview
We are looking to highlight outstanding adoptive families who have shown exceptional love, dedication, and resilience. What is an "outstanding adoptive family?" There are lots of reasons a family may stand out. Maybe they have shown an especially deep commitment to their children, are dedicated to helping their children heal from past trauma, or give back to the foster/adoption community in some way. Whatever it is that makes a family special... we want to hear about it!

Selected families will be recognized publicly, and one family will be spotlighted each day in November across the MARE website and MARE/MDHHS social media platforms.

Awards
Each of the 30 winners will receive a wish up to $200 to benefit their family, along with an invitation to one of our family-friendly celebrations held in their honor.

Eligibility Criteria
To be considered, a nominated family must:

• Have finalized an adoption through Michigan’s foster care system
• Currently reside in Michigan
• Have at least one adopted child, age 18 or younger, living in the home
• Not have previously received the 30 Wishes Outstanding Adoptive Family award

Selection Process
A panel of judges will review each nomination based on merit and without any identifying information. To help the judges decide, be sure your nomination includes meaningful details and specific examples why the family you’re nominating deserves to win and demonstrates at least one of the following qualities:

• Commitment
• Resourcefulness
• Works collaboratively
• Creativity
• Patience
• Flexibility
• Perseverance
• Advocacy skills

The more detail you provide, the better we can celebrate the family's journey and impact!

Important Guidelines

• Wishes should not exceed $200 in value.
• Wishes must benefit the entire family or household.
• While we strive to fulfill specific requests, fulfillment is not guaranteed. Please note: the family will ultimately choose their own wish if they are selected.
• Only families with finalized adoptions through Michigan’s foster care system and current Michigan residents are eligible.
• Self-nominations and previous award recipients will not be considered.

Deadline
All nominations must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Monday, August 25, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Questions
For more information, contact Michelle Parra, MARE Director, at michelle_parra@judsoncenter.org. 

 

Check back here each day throughout the month of November to see each family's photo and read their adoption story. Each recognized family will also be featured on the MARE and DHHS social media outlets.