The Department of Human Services (DHS) is given the charge of finding permanent homes for children who have come into the state's care. Some of these children have been abused or neglected and all of them have been removed from their home. A court has terminated their parents' rights after efforts to improve the family's situation failed. Michigan takes great efforts to encourage the adoption of children who are permanent state and court wards by families who understand the children's sometimes painful and traumatic backgrounds and are willing to provide the parenting and home life necessary to care for them. Together with private agencies, DHS staff searches for appropriate adoptive families that will best meet the needs of the child.

The Department of Human Services does not handle all adoptions. Parental consent adoption or "direct placement" adoption occurs when birth parents directly consent, in a court of law, to the adoption of their child by the prospective adoptive parent(s). They are facilitated by licensed private adoption agencies or by adoption attorneys. However, even when an adoption attorney is used to facilitate the adoption process, an adoptive family assessment (or "home study") must be completed and approved by a licensed child-placing agency. For information on direct placement adoptions, stepparent adoptions, international adoptions or any other type of adoptions where a child is not a permanent state or court ward, please contact a licensed private adoption agency or the circuit court, Family Division, in the county in which you reside. For more information go to DHS' Licensing page.

DHS' booklet "Adopting a Child in Michigan" (PUB 823)" provides an overview of Michigan's adoption law, describes the types of adoptions available in Michigan, the role of the court and other helpful information.

Another booklet you may find helpful, "Michigan Department of Human Services's Adoption Program Statement" (PUB 255) addresses the concentrated effort of the state agency to find homes for permanent state and court wards.

You may request a copy of these booklets from licensed adoption agencies, your local Department of Human Services or from most courts.