20/07: Michigan Foster Care

The Children's Foster Care Services Program in Michigan is administered by the Department of Human Services. It provides placement and supervision of children who are temporary or permanent court or state wards. A child who is a ward of the court or state is a child who cannot remain at home because their family is unable to provide minimal care and supervision or whose parents' parental rights have been terminated. The foster care program has a goal to preserve the child's family where possible and this means providing services that can resolve the problem at home, so the child may be returned.


Foster Care will not become involved until a member of the community reports possible abuse, neglect or abandonment of a child by the parent, legal guardian or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare. If there is such a report, Children's Protective Services will investigate the situation to determine if it is safe for the child to remain in the home. If it is assessed that the child is unsafe, the Department of Human Service may petition the family court to intervene and possibly issue an order to remove the child from the home so that they may be placed in Foster Care.

Both the Child Abuse and Neglect criminal law and the Child Protection Law define "child" as a person who is under the age of 18. “Child abuse” is harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare by a person responsible for the child's health or welfare. The harm may actually occur or may be threatened. It may be physical or mental. “Neglect” is harm to a child's health or welfare by a person responsible for the child's health or welfare which occurs through negligent treatment, including the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. The Child Protection Law provides for the protection of all children who are abused or neglected. It requires the reporting of child abuse and neglect by certain persons, and permits the reporting of child abuse and neglect by all persons. It also also allows for authorization of limited detainment in protective custody and medical examinations.

For more information about Michigan's Foster Care Program or other Department of Human Services programs visit Michigan Department Human Services.






Comments

refadmin wrote:

I have experience representing parents in these cases, but I cannot help you as your husband has an attorney who should be the one to answer all your questions.
09/12 09:59:35

Need Help (Julie) wrote:

CPS has removed my step-daughter from her mothers home. She is currently residing with her Aunt, who has recently become a certified Foster Care provider.
There is a case of child neglect pending against the mother and my husband has been in touch with the DHS case worker and has retained an attorney. We plan to seek custody, but the DHS case worker is telling us that they are not making his request a priority because his daughter has expressed she doesn't want to live with us, no good reason other than she will no longer be close to her boyfriend, who by the way is 21, and she is only 16. In some sense it is as if they are saying she would be better off with her aunt in foster care. Since when does the minor child have a say? In the meantime my husband has received notice that he is responsible to reimburse the state $100 / wk for out of home care. With the mother having sole custody, shouldn't she be responsible, since it is her fault the child was removed? Is there anything my husband can do? On top of the "foster care" reimbursement, the court is also saying he has to pay $700 / mo for court fee in regards to the child negligence case against the mother. Is this right? He has nothing to do with the case yet is being charge court fees???
07/12 17:02:18

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