Hands Across the Water Gets Leadership Status from the Human Rights Campaign

Ann Arbor, Mich: On Friday, April 13th, 2018, Hands Across The Water, a licensed child welfare agency will be hosting an open house event at their Ann Arbor office, celebrating their achievements in serving LGBTQ families and earning the All Children, All Families Leadership Status from the Human Rights Campaign for the seventh year in a row.
This event will provide community members, agency families and supporters with the opportunity to learn about the work of Hands Across The Water and celebrate their achievements in promoting LGBTQ rights. Friends, supporters and all interested community members are invited to attend this celebration which will include light refreshments, kid-friendly activities, giveaways, an office tour and a short presentation about the organization. A representative from the HRC will also be present to give Hands Across The Water with a Seal of Recognition at 5 pm and again at 6 pm.
Agency director, Katie Page Sander said that she is excited about the upcoming event and to show community members Hands Across the Water's new location.
"Many of our former families and supporters have not yet seen our space that we moved into five years ago and we want to include them in our celebration," she said. "We are incredibly proud to be recognized by HRC for the 7th year in a row as a leader in serving the LGBTQ community. More than ever before. It is imperative that we loudly and proudly express our strongly held values through our work in the child welfare community, which is inclusive of all children and families. We hope that our work in this area inspires more agencies in the field to pursue this honor."
Hands Across The Water is a fully licensed child placing agency. Founded in 1999, HATW originally provided international adoption services. Today, HATW supports families in domestic infant adoption, state adoption, pregnancy counseling, foster care, in-home parent education and behavioral health services. Hands Across The Water is dedicated to building and supporting families, committed to the belief that every child deserves a home and loving family.
The "All Children, All Families Celebration" will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hands Across The Water's Ann Arbor Office, located at 781 Avis Drive Suite 200.