There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.
-Nelson Mandela
Family Service & Children’s Aid (FSCA) contracts with the State of Michigan to provide foster care case management and adoption services to children in the foster care system and their birth families. Currently there are approximately 10,000 Michigan children in the foster care system. The primary goal upon a child entering the foster care system is typically reunification with their biological parents when it is safe and in the children’s best interest to do so. The most pressing need is for foster families willing and capable of accommodating sibling groups, and/or children aged 9 or older. Foster parents play a crucial role in providing a safe and nurturing environment during the reunification process, aiding children in overcoming developmental delays, healing from trauma, and establishing lifelong connections. In cases where reunification with biological parents is not possible, FSCA endeavors to connect foster children with loving families who will provide them permanency through the process of adoption. If you are interested in learning more, call us and schedule an orientation. Orientation can take place in your home or in our office and typically take 1 to 2 hours. If you are a two-parent family both parents must attend. Visit the Foster Home Licensing page for more information.
FSCA provides the following services to families interested in being licensed to provide foster care or adopting out of the foster care system:
- Comprehensive foster care and/or adoption orientation
- Foster Parent Home Evaluation
- Adoptive Parent Home Evaluation
- Training referrals
- Foster Home Licensing case management services
- Foster Care case management services (after a child is placed in the home)
- 24-hour emergency assistance
For information about why children come into the foster care system go to:
Contact: 517-787-7920
Family Service & Children’s Aid, in partnership with the State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, is dedicated to recruiting and licensing foster family homes. Our agency’s experienced and professional licensing staff are committed to delivering top-tier service to our foster families. The licensing process entails thorough documentation and training, and our licensing team is adept at guiding and assisting prospective foster families every step of the way. We prioritize helping foster parents grasp the unique needs of children in foster care and aid them in determining the best fit for the child(ren) they can support. Moreover, our licensing staff provides ongoing support and training to foster families throughout and beyond the licensing process. Pre-licensing training includes Grow Training- (GROW Training Overview | Foster Care Navigator Program (fcnp.org), and CPR/First Aid.
Foster children need caring individuals who can provide a safe and nurturing home. The primary goal during foster care is to reunite the child with his or her parents. This can take some time – we need caring adults who are willing to provide stability and safety for children in their care.
Foster parents should be committed individuals who are:
- Willing to work with the child’s birth parents.
- Supportive of efforts to return the child home.
- Able to work with children who have emotional and behavioral needs.
- Able to encourage teens toward independent living.
- Willing to consider providing a permanent home if necessary.
Please reach out to us at 517-787-7920 or fostercare@strong-families.org to arrange a thorough licensing orientation session and discover the path to becoming a Foster Parent.
All children in foster care are provided the following:
- Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
- Mental Health Care – In-home or office depending on the child’s needs.
- Case management services
- Regular visits with their birth parent (usually twice a week)
- Educational assistance
- Clothing allowance
Contact: 517-787-7920
Foster Parent Licensing Documents and Forms
Foster Parent Licensing Publications
Adoption Publications
- DHHS Adoption Program Statement
- Adopting a Child in Michigan
- Making the Decision to Become a Child’s Permanent Family
- Michigan Adoption Assistance Program
- Release of Adoption Records
Foster Parent Training Websites
- Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard
- First Aid (needs to be completed upon expiration of previous first aid completion date)
- firstaidweb.com
- firstaidforfree.com
Ongoing Training After Licensure
6 hours of training are required each year after being issued a foster home license
Contact: 517-787-7920
How long does the adoption process take?
The adoption process varies from case to case. Generally you can expect the process to take anywhere from 6-12 months (or longer) after the child is legally free for adoption to finalize the process.
What is the “Adoption process”?
Whether you become licensed or not, each family must undergo an extensive study. This includes background checks, information gathering, obtaining references, medical evaluations, training, etc. Once your study is complete and you are matched with a child, you will begin the process of finalizing the adoption. The process includes securing subsidy (if available), obtaining consent and filing the legal paperwork.
What is adoption assistance?
Adoption assistance is a form of support. It can be financial through monthly reimbursements or medical through additional insurance. Eligibility for financial or medical assistance varies from each case. Subsidy supports are often available for the adoption of sibling groups and older youth.
Does it cost anything to adopt?
When adopting a child through the child welfare system, there are no fees for services. These services include completing the home study, filing legal forms with the court, etc. Any fees that are required for the process are often reimbursed through the State and/or this agency. Each case is unique so this may not be the case for everyone.
What is consent?
The process of obtaining consent is what the case manager does to obtain permission of the state (who holds the legal custody of the child) to request that the legal custody change to the adoptive parent. Consent must be obtained for the adoption to be approved as Family Service & Children’s Aid can only make a recommendation and not a decision about any child who is a ward of the State.
What is involved in the legal paperwork?
Once any subsidies are secured (if applicable) and the consent for adoption has been approved, the case manager will work with the court to file the legal paperwork to name the adoptive parents as the legal family for that child. The court will often set a hearing date within a few weeks of obtaining the legal paperwork so that the adoptive placement can be made formal.
Is the child officially adopted after the court hearing for the adoption has occurred?
Not necessarily in all cases. The court and/or the family may request a supervision period by Family Service & Children’s Aid for up to 6 additional months to ensure the child and the family have the necessary services and support in place to ensure a successful adoption. If the child has not been living in your home for a minimum of 6 months prior to the legal paperwork being signed the supervision period is required.
