Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE): How to Find Children Waiting for Families

Most prospective adoptive parents in Michigan spend months wondering if there are children who actually need families — or whether the wait will stretch into years. The Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange exists specifically to answer that question, and it does so more directly than almost anything else in the state system.

MARE is the official photolisting maintained by the state of Michigan for children who are legal wards, have had parental rights terminated, and are actively waiting for an adoptive placement. If you have completed a home study with a licensed child placing agency (CPA) or with MDHHS, MARE is the bridge between your approved status and a specific child.

What MARE Actually Does

MARE is not an adoption agency. It does not hold custody of children, conduct home studies, or manage caseloads. Think of it as a curated directory operated in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Its primary functions are:

The photolisting. MARE maintains profiles — including photographs and written descriptions — of Michigan children who are legally free for adoption and have been waiting for families. These profiles are updated regularly, and families who have been approved can access them through the agency or caseworker managing their home study.

The Michigan Heart Gallery. This is MARE's most visible public initiative: a traveling exhibit of professional portraits of children in foster care taken by volunteer photographers. The Heart Gallery has been displayed in malls, airports, libraries, and community centers across the state. Many adoptions have started because a family stopped to look at a portrait. The next time the gallery comes to a venue near you — particularly in Grand Rapids, Lansing, or Detroit — it is worth attending even if you are early in the process. The photographs are not just compelling; they humanize children who otherwise exist only as case numbers.

Agency locator. MARE maintains a searchable directory of licensed CPAs in Michigan, organized by county and by the types of adoptions they facilitate. If you are not yet connected with an agency, MARE's agency locator is one of the most practical starting points for comparing Bethany Christian Services, Judson Center, D.A. Blodgett-St. John's, Samaritas, and other licensed providers.

Waiting child recruitment. MARE coordinates outreach specifically for children who have been waiting the longest — older youth, sibling groups, children with medical or developmental needs, and teenagers who may age out of the system without ever being adopted.

Who Can Access the Photolisting

Access to child profiles on MARE is not open to the general public without restriction. To be matched with a waiting child through MARE, you need:

1. An approved adoption home study completed by a licensed Michigan CPA or MDHHS.
2. An active relationship with a caseworker who can submit your family profile to MARE.

Families who have been fostering a child and are now pursuing adoption through the foster-to-adopt pathway typically already have a connection to MARE through their placing agency. Families beginning the process fresh — particularly those interested in adopting an older child or a sibling group — may want to contact MARE directly at (800) 589-6273 to understand how their approved family profile will be circulated.

How Matching Through MARE Works

When your home study is approved and your profile is active, the agency worker assigned to your family can submit it to MARE for consideration against children currently listed. MARE also does proactive outreach: if a child's profile matches your approved family characteristics, MARE may contact your agency to initiate a conversation.

The matching process is not instant. Children come with specific needs, histories, and county-level caseworkers who have their own input into the placement decision. A match means the beginning of a supervised introduction process, not an immediate placement. After a placement occurs, Michigan law requires a minimum of six months of post-placement supervision before a finalization petition can be filed in the Circuit Court Family Division.

If you are matched with a sibling group or a child with significant medical needs, there may also be a review of your subsidy eligibility through the Michigan Adoption Assistance Program before finalization — and this is critical to address before the judge signs the final adoption order, not after.

The Children MARE Lists

The children on MARE's photolisting tend to be those for whom a direct agency placement has not yet occurred. That includes:

• Children ages 8 and older
• Sibling groups of two or more
• Children with physical disabilities, developmental delays, or emotional and behavioral needs
• Teenagers who are approaching the age of 18 without a permanent family

This does not mean MARE only serves families open to older or higher-needs children. Families can specify their preferences through their home study, and MARE will circulate their profile accordingly. But understanding the realistic composition of the waiting child population helps prospective parents make honest decisions about their openness and preparation.

MARE and the Michigan Heart Gallery Schedule

The Heart Gallery schedule changes seasonally. MARE publishes upcoming venues on its website at mare.org. If you are considering foster-to-adopt or direct adoption of a waiting child and have not yet attended a Heart Gallery event, it is worth seeking one out. Many families report that the gallery shifted their thinking about the age or background of the child they ultimately adopted.

If your family is approved and you want your profile circulated to children listed in the Heart Gallery, talk to your caseworker about making that request explicitly. The standard process does not automatically cross-reference Heart Gallery listings with all approved families.

Starting Your Michigan Adoption with Purpose

If the goal is to adopt a child who is already legally free and waiting in Michigan, MARE is the most direct path. The site is not a substitute for a licensed agency — you still need a home study — but it removes the ambiguity about whether Michigan children need families. They do.

The Michigan Adoption Process Guide walks through every step from home study application through Probate Court finalization, including how to navigate the matching process, what to expect during post-placement supervision, and how to apply for adoption assistance before you reach the courtroom.

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