Becoming a foster parent in Michigan can be rewarding for both you and the children in your care.
Becoming a foster parent in Michigan requires obtaining a license from the Department of Human Services; the department or a licensed child placement agency typically process applications and place foster children. The process can be quite lengthy, anywhere from three to four months; however, any financially stable adult with a clean criminal background is eligible.
Instructions
Application Process
1. Attend a state-mandated orientation class. This will typically take one to two hours, and will introduce you to foster parenting. The class includes details on the application process and what will be expected, from you, as a foster parent. The state requires that you and any other adult in your household attend this orientation before filling out the official application, according to the Michigan Department of Human Services.
2. Obtain the Michigan foster parent licensing paperwork. In some cases, the class may provide the paperwork following orientation. Some forms are available online, and you can get all of the forms you need through an official request to the Department of Human Services.
3. Fill out your application package. The application will include information on you and every other member of your household, as well as forms providing the Department of Human Services with permission to obtain personal information on yourself and household members.
4. Pass a criminal background check. The state of Michigan will do the check, with your consent, on you and each adult member of your household at no cost. If you go through a licensed child place placement agency you may have to pay a fee; however, the agency will typically refund the fee once you obtain your Michigan foster parent license.
5. Submit medical statements from your family doctor on all members of your household. This will show the licensing agency whether you and your family are physically and mentally capable of caring for a foster child.
6. Submit three written, verifiable character reference statements from close friends; the references must be from people not related to you by blood or marriage. The people you choose will typically have to have known you for at least a year. In most cases, you will need three references for each adult over the age of 18 in your household.
7. Undergo an environmental inspection. A state employee will perform the inspection, which is used to determine whether or not you have a suitable living space for a foster child. The worker will look at the amount of space available and verify that the home is in good condition. Michigan does not require that you own your home or live in a single-family residence to foster a child.
8. Complete on-site visits with a social worker. The social worker will likely drop by to observe how your household runs on a daily basis. He will also talk to each household member one on one to get a feel for how the family as a whole would handle a foster child.
Fostering a Child
9. Obtain a six-month probationary license, after your application is approved, which will state the age of children you are qualified to care for and how many can be placed with your family at once.
10. Attend foster parent training classes. Information on helping a child become comfortable in your home, fostering a relationship with the child's parents and what rules and regulations you will be expected to follow are provided in the classes.
11. Wait for a child or children to be placed in your care. In many cases, this can happen at any time; however, simply obtaining your license does not ensure that you will foster a child the next day. The Michigan Department of Human Services will contact you if a child needs you.
12. Take the child in your care to doctor appointments, therapy sessions and school. Depending on the situation, you may need to bring the child to meetings with her parents. This is in addition to ensuring that the child attends school and other activities as well as providing her with food, shelter and a loving, supportive environment. In most cases, a child will likely only be in your care for a few days or weeks. In rare cases, this may be longer.
Tags: your household, Department Human, Department Human Services, foster child, Human Services