Kinship care and foster care.
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Kinship care can be an informal arrangement with a child’s parent(s), which does not involve child welfare agencies. However, kinship care can become relative foster care if child welfare agencies become involved and certain requirements are met by the kinship caregiver.
Relative foster care in Michigan requires kinship caregivers to become approved.
Foster care families who are unknown/unrelated to a child must be licensed.
Who is involved in the foster care process?
There are many different agencies and representatives involved in helping foster parents become licensed and provide care.
Foster Care Workers: Each child in the foster care system is assigned a foster care worker. This person makes sure the child is safe and their needs are being met. A foster care worker will also work with the child’s parent(s) to make a plan for the changes necessary for the children to return home. They report to the court and make recommendations regarding the child. Your foster care worker is usually the person to contact to discuss the child(ren) in your care.
Lawyer Guardian Ad Litem: Each child in foster care is appointed a lawyer guardian ad litem (LGAL). This person is appointed to advocate for the child’s best interest. The LGAL completes an investigation separate from the foster care worker to determine the child’s best interests. They find out the child’s wishes before court hearings and advocate for them in the courtroom.
Foster Care Review Board: The Review Board is a group of volunteers who meet monthly to review cases of foster children. The Board provides its findings and recommendations to the court, MDHHS, and other agencies and individuals involved in the case. If a foster parent objects to a change in placement, they can appeal and request a Foster Care Review Board hearing. Learn more about the appeal process here.
Office of the Child Advocate: This is an independent agency that investigates complaints concerning children who are under the supervision of the MDHHS or its contracted agencies, and determines whether the decisions and actions made by MDHHS and/or its agencies are in compliance with the laws, rules, and MDHHS policies, and in the best interest of the child. The KCRC encourages trying to settle any grievances or issues with your caseworker first before filing a complaint. To learn more about the OCA, visit the OCA website.
Learn more about foster care