Nominations are now open for the Daniel J. Wright Lifetime Achievement Award and the the Maura D. Corrigan Foster Family Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Daniel J. Wright Lifetime Achievement Award honors exceptional service to Michigan’s children. Sponsored by the Michigan Supreme Court and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the award is presented each year in conjunction with efforts to encourage and celebrate adoption. As part of its November Adoption Month initiative, the Supreme Court is urging courts statewide to raise awareness of the need for loving parents to adopt children from foster care.
The award was established in honor of the late Daniel J. Wright of Grand Ledge, a longtime leader in child support and child welfare reform. He was credited with the “Michigan Miracle” in 2002 when, as special assistant to then-Chief Justice Maura D. Corrigan, he led the state’s efforts to upgrade Michigan’s child support enforcement system by federally-mandated deadlines.
By meeting the deadlines, Wright saved the state $142 million in federal fines and earned the state a $36 million refund for fines it had already paid. Later, as director of the Friend of the Court Bureau and Child Welfare Services divisions of the State Court Administrative Office, Wright helped create the state’s “Adoption Forums” to deal with adoption barriers that were stranding children in foster care.
“Wright’s legacy and devotion to give foster children a greater voice in decisions affecting their own lives, continue to make a difference in the lives of children and inspired the Court in our work,” said Chief Justice Bridget McCormack. “Connecting foster children with safe and nurturing ‘forever’ families is a goal shared by everyone in our justice system.”
Nominations are open to attorneys, judges, caseworkers, court staff, employees of public and private agencies, employees and members of nonprofits, and others who have a significant record of helping Michigan families and children. To be eligible, a nominee must have 10 years or more experience in the field and a record of achievements with demonstrable impact.
Previous recipients include the late Daniel J. Wright; former MDHHS Director Marilyn Stephen; Crawford County Court Administrator Thomas Haskel; Midland County Probate Judge Dorene Allen; former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maura Corrigan; Calhoun County Friend of the Court Jeffrey Albaugh; Executive Director Children’s Services Agency Steve Yager; Genesee County Circuit Judge Duncan Beagle, Wexford County Probate Judge Kenneth Tacoma, Cheboygan County Probate Judge Robert Butts, and last year’s recipient, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Laura Baird.
The Maura D. Corrigan Foster Family Lifetime Achievement Award honors exemplary service to Michigan’s children and families. The award, sponsored by the Michigan Supreme Court, was established in honor of Corrigan, who as chief justice, focused on streamlining the adoption process and helping more children find “forever” families. Corrigan, who also served as the head of Michigan’s Department of Human Services, is responsible for improving services to some of Michigan’s most vulnerable citizens and has been widely recognized for dedication to child welfare.
“Foster parents step up to help because they love children and want to make a difference in their lives, but their efforts all too often go unrecognized” said McCormack. “Every foster parent who provides a safe and loving home should be recognized, and this award honors those amazing moms and dads whose efforts are so extraordinary and remarkable that they inspire others to follow their lead.”
Nominations are open to foster parents who have a significant record of helping Michigan families and children.
Previous recipients include Ramah Emily Krontz of Burr Oak, who served as a foster parent for 12 years and fostered 38 children and former State Court Administrative Office and Department of Health and Human Services employee Jenifer L. Pettibone, herself a foster parent of three, who passed away in 2019.
All nominations are due by Friday, October 30. Both award recipients will be honored with a special virtual presentation celebrating 2020 Michigan Adoption Day on November 24.
Direct questions should be sent to Lynn Seaks at SeaksL@courts.mi.gov or at 517-373-1067 or Elizabeth Henderson at HendersonE@courts.mi.gov or 517-373-2621.
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