How to Become a Foster Parent in Michigan

According to the U.S. Administration for Children and Families, Michigan reported 20,228 children in foster homes in September 2008. Children enter foster care because of neglect, abuse or abandonment. Most foster care placements are emergency placements intended to be short-term solutions that provide family settings for children. In Michigan, children in foster care are wards of the state or the court. Michigan̵7;s Family to Family program requires neighborhood-based recruitment of foster homes and birth-parent involvement. The foster home licensing process takes two to six months to complete.

Instructions

  1. Application, Licensing and Home Study

    • 1

      Contact a local child-placing agency: Michigan Department of Human Services, a county social service office, one of the licensed child-placing agencies or the county juvenile courts. County social service offices maintain a list of foster care licensing agencies.

    • 2

      Complete the foster care orientation that provides an overview of the foster care system, the application and licensing process, foster care policies and other related legislation, issues faced by children in foster care and training requirements. After orientation, complete the foster home license application. No fee is required.

    • 3

      Determine the type of foster home you intend to provide. Michigan defines a foster family home as a private home that may house one to four foster children. A foster family group home is defined as private home that may house four to seven foster children.

    • 4

      Assist the agency in completing the foster home study, which includes background clearances and medical statements for all household members. Identify three people who are not relatives to provide references. Allow a health department inspection if required and allow licensing workers to inspect the home for safety, cleanliness and space.

    • 5

      Participate in the remainder of the home study that involves assessing parenting skills and determining the opinions of all household members regarding accepting foster children into the home. Answer questions regarding knowledge of foster children̵7;s needs, the importance of biological-parental involvement and working with the agency.

    • 6

      Complete the training provided by the licensing agency. New foster parents are required to take 12 hours of training prior to licensing, followed by 12 hours over the six months after licensing. Training includes parenting skills, emergency and first aid procedures, working with the agency and the birth parents, and assisting older youth to plan for independence.

    • 7

      If approved, receive the original first provisional foster care license after which the licensing agency determines the numbers and types of children to be placed in your home. After six months, the agency can recommend renewal of the six-month license for two years.

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