Behind the Photolistings
Here are a few ways we work behind the scenes to help our youth achieve permanency and improve services for them in Michigan.
Adoption Awareness
MARE travels to festivals, sporting events, places of worship, and a variety of community events statewide to spread the word about the need for foster and adoptive families and to recruit families for our waiting youth. We also publish quarterly newsletters and periodicals, and maintain multiple social media channels to support these efforts.
Want to partner with MARE or have as at your event? Contact Jessica Thompson, MARE Recruitment Specialist, at jessica_thompson@judsoncenter.org.
Michigan Adoption Oversight Committee (AOC)
MARE leads the committee, whose purpose is to examine the state of adoption and adoption services in Michigan and to develop suggestions and action plans for improvement. The Adoption Oversight Committee provides the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services with a long-term workgroup that represents a thorough cross-section of partners in the adoption arena.
If you're with a private agency or state program and would like to join, contact Michelle Parra, MARE Director, at michelle_parra@judsoncenter.org.
Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
The Youth Advisory Board hosts events and activities for youth who are photolisted on MARE. During YAB meetings, they share their thoughts on ways to enhance recruitment activities, programs, and policies impacting youth in our state. Those taking part may live in foster homes, residential facilities, or adoptive homes if they are currently adopted but were previously photolisted. Participants reflect on their lived experience to make services better for all children in care.
Know a youth who'd like to take part? Contact Gabrielle Werkheiser, MARE Youth Specialist, at gabrielle_werkheiser@judsoncenter.org.
Adoption Permanency Specialists (APS)
APS workers help adoption workers strengthen and develop personalized recruitment for youth who have been photolisted for less than a year on MARE. They assist in a variety of ways, including breaking down barriers to recruitment and permanency, helping with relative locating, providing resources based on the youth’s needs, and more. They meet with the adoption worker and team during the first year of the youth’s adoption goal.
Questions about the APS program? Contact Margaret White, MARE Social Work Supervisor, at margaret_white@judsoncenter.org.
Photolisting Statistics
MARE maintains data on key demographics of photolisted youth that is used to inform policy, complete research, and share with the public. Visit our photolisting statistics page to review the data.
Questions about data? Contact Jeremiah Balazovich, MARE Data Analyst, at jeremiah_balazovich@judsoncenter.org.
Training, Committees, and Speaking
MARE staff serve on foster, adoptive, and kinship committees and organizations throughout the state. They also train workers on using the MARE website and following state policies. For families, MARE hosts recruitment events, training, and conferences. MARE staff can also be requested to speak about adoption, our photolisted youth, and the need for foster and adoptive parents at community events.
For committee and organization participation, contact Michelle Parra, MARE Director, at michelle_parra@judsoncenter.org
For adoption worker training, contact Martha Kaczala, MARE Adoption Worker Liaison/Trainer, at martha_kaczala@judsoncenter.org.
For a speaker, contact Jessica Thompson, MARE Recruitment Specialist, at jessica_thompson@judsoncenter.org.