Curious about teens waiting for adoption?
Talk directly with their workers!
Learn about featured youth, ask their workers questions, and see if you may be a fit for them. Our Adoption Permanency Specialists and Youth Recruiters host these virtual recruitment events, featuring segments on multiple teens each quarter. The teens themselves do not attend, so you’re able to have open conversations with their workers.
What is a Teen Spotlight?
Teen Spotlights are live, virtual presentations that highlight teens waiting for adoption. Typically, four teens are featured. You’ll learn about each teen’s personality, interests, strengths, and needs—and then have the unique opportunity to ask questions directly to their adoption workers. (As a bonus, these events are also a beneficial way to learn types of questions you might like to ask about youth in the future.)
If you think you may be a match for one of the teens, you can share your interest directly with their worker.
What happens during the event?
The events typically last around an hour, but may run longer depending on the number of questions asked.
Here’s what to expect:
- Welcome and guidelines
- Featured teen segments with profiles, photos, and occasionally video
- Live Q&A with each teen’s worker and sometimes additional team members
- An opportunity to share your interest if you feel you may be a fit for one of the teens
Privacy note: To respect and protect our teens’ privacy, recording and screenshots are not allowed.
What can I ask?
At the start of the event, MARE staff will review what kinds of questions are appropriate. You’re welcome to ask anything within those guidelines. If a worker cannot answer, they’ll let you know.
Examples of common questions include:
What are a particular teen's interests, hopes, and goals right now?
How do they do at school, and what supports help them succeed?
How many placements have they had?
What helps them feel safe and calm when stressed?
How do they describe their “ideal” family (structure, pets, siblings, location)?
What is important to honor culturally (traditions, identity, community connections)?
Do they have siblings or relatives they’re connected to, and what contact is recommended?
What does a typical weekday or weekend look like for them?
What are the next steps and timeline if we think we may be a fit?
Who can attend?
To participate, you must have an approved adoption homestudy. You will receive a confirmation to attend and a link once we verify your eligibility with your adoption worker.
We recommend this event for families residing in Michigan, rather than those from outside our state.
Registration
Upcoming Teen Spotlights are shared with our email list [link], listed on our statewide calendar [link] and homepage [link], and posted to our social media channels. Directions for registering are included with the announcements.
Questions?
To ask questions or learn more, please contact Margaret White, MARE Social Work Supervisor, at 734-528-1722 or email margaret_white@judsoncenter.org.