June 14, 2000
New stamp celebrates adoption
TC girl wins stamp art contest
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
"I feel loved and special knowing that I have a family who loves and cares for me." - Kara Birch, 11.
Friday morning was special in two ways for Kara Birch. First, she received a first place award for her drawing about adoption in an art contest sponsored by Child & Family Services. The contest drew 20 entries from around the region and was held in conjunction with the local unveiling of the Adoption stamp, which the United States Postal Service commissioned to celebrate adoption.
June 9 also marked the 11th anniversary of Kara's departure from her homeland of Korea to fly to her new family in America. Just eight months old at the time, she was soon in the arms of her new parents, Bill and Rachelle Birch of Traverse City, and their son, Scott, then 8. Now a typical pre-teen who just completed fifth-grade at the Living God Christian School, Kara has filled a special spot in her family's heart.
"Kara is quite a special gift and a blessing to us all," Rachelle Birch said. "We chose her when she was two months old."
Kara and her family were joined by more than 80 others for the Adoption stamp's unveiling ceremony at the Traverse Area District Library. Speakers at the event included former lieutenant governor Connie Binsfield, Kalkaska County Family Court Judge Lynne Buday, Traverse City Postmaster Phil Williams, a birthmother and an adoptive father.
"It should never hurt to be a child," said Binsfield, who has worked for years on behalf of adoptive and foster children and spearheaded revisions of laws on those issues. "Stability and continuity in a young child's life are so important and the adoption stamp represents to the public our very important role in the process."
Kara's winning drawing was made into a rubber stamp that will be used for the next 30 days to cancel commemorative envelopes featuring all three winning drawings. At the ceremony, she hand-cancelled the first commemorative envelope. Proceeds from the sale of these envelopes, called cachets, will go toward adoption programs at Child and Family Services.
Justin Spaleny, 15, of Buckley was the second place winner in the art contest and Kelli Waligorski, 10, of Kaleva took third place. The three winners each represented a different type of adoption, a coincidence that showed how adoptions could help children from a variety of circumstances find a permanent home.
"After the winners were selected, we learned Kara was an international adoption and Justin was a special needs adoption, part of a sibling group," said Liz Rockershousen, public relations director at Child and Family Services. "Plus, Kelli was adopted as an infant and her birth mother selected the adoptive parents, who were in the delivery room when she was born."
Child and Family Services facilitates many of the adoptions in northwest Michigan. Last year they placed 30 children in special needs adoptions and seven infants. This year to date, the agency has placed 15 children in special needs homes and one infant. A special needs child is generally over the age of three, part of a sibling group and may have emotional, physical or mental impairments, may be of a racial or ethnic minorities or any combination of those factors, Rockershousen said.
Statewide, Michigan placed 2,417 children in adoptive homes last year and had placed an average of 2,000 each year since 1996. Still permanent homes are needed for children of all ages.
"From the court's perspective, Michigan has done an outstanding job of achieving placements for state wards," Buday said. "But today there are literally hundreds of kids still waiting for adoptive homes."
The adoption station cachets are available for sale at the Traverse City Convention and Visitor's Center, the two Traverse City Wendy's locations and the Child and Family Services offices in Traverse City and Petoskey. Each hand-cancelled cachet costs $5 and the proceeds will benefit adoption programs at Child and Family Services.