Michigan increased the number of children placed in adoptive homes in 2009 to 3,030 – an 11 percent increase over the previous year – and in the process earned $3.5 million in federal funds. Lutheran Adoption Service, a joint effort of Lutheran Social Services and Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan, placed 264 children in 2009, a 12 percent increase over 2008. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded $39 million to 38 states and Puerto Rico for increasing the number of adoptions they completed. A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Human Services said the incentive award will be earmarked for adoption services.

Our One Church, One Child, One Family program encourages church communities to work together to find one family who will adopt a child or sibling group. Go to this web page for more information about how you and your church can help find "forever families" for children in need.