Foster care is the temporary placement of children who cannot be with their parents safely. The goal is to eventually reunify the children with their birth family after issues are resolved at home. Adoption is the legal, permanent placement of a child when they cannot be reunified with their birth parents due to parental rights being terminated.

A foster child is one whose birth parents are physically or emotionally unable to provide for their child’s needs. Foster children may have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, and they have often experienced physical, emotional, or social deprivation and traumatic events. Children needing foster care are of all races and range in age from birth to 18 years.

Oakland Family Services welcomes all kinds of foster parents and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, disability, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

To qualify as a foster parent, individuals must be:

• At least 18 years old

• Emotionally, physically and financially stable

• Able to meet the needs of the child or children in their care

There is no minimum income or education requirement. Foster parents can rent or own their residence, whether that is a house, apartment or mobile home.

Oakland Family Services also licenses relative caregivers who provide kinship care for children in foster care.

A foster parent cannot have had children previously removed from their care due to a children's protective services investigation and court order. Foster parents must be willing to work with the agency to complete a home study assessment, as well as other background clearances and training. If you are interested in becoming a licensed foster parent, you will need to complete an orientation, submit an application, and be fingerprinted. You will then begin working with a licensing worker to complete the licensing process and home study assessment.

A foster parent is part of a team that works together to best meet the physical and emotional needs of a child in foster care. This team includes the child’s birth family, agency staff, and other professionals, such as lawyers and special advocates. Foster parents provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and transportation for a child, as well as appropriate life experiences and fun activities. They advocate on behalf of the child for their physical health, mental health, emotional needs, and educational needs. Foster parents also model and teach appropriate behaviors and coping skills to help the child transition to their birth or adoptive family.

1. Attend an Oakland Family Services foster care orientation. To inquire about this, fill out the form on our website or contact Teresa Spong: tspong@ofsfamily.org, (248) 858-7766 ext. 1236.

2. Submit an application, complete a background check, and submit fingerprint clearances.

3. Attend GROW training (GROW stands for Grow culturally responsive relationships, Recognize children’s developmental needs and the impact of trauma, Obtain information and resources, Work in partnership with families to support healthy relationships) and other pre-service training (including CPR and first aid), which totals about 20 hours. Training is designed to help families understand the trauma foster children may have experienced, how to best manage children’s behavior and special needs, and the resources available to assist in caring for children.

4. Complete a home study, which is a thorough assessment of your home and all household members. The home study is a culmination of the entire licensing process, including orientation, fingerprint clearances, background clearances, pre-service training, two or more home visits during which all household members are interviewed, and other paperwork.

The State of Michigan and Oakland Family Services do not charge any fees for paperwork, home visits, assessments, or fingerprinting. There may be charges such as medical check-ups, retrieval of court or police documents, home improvements, etc. that prospective foster parents need to pay for out of pocket during the licensing process.

The State of Michigan reimburses foster parents a set monthly rate for each child placed in the home. While this rate does not necessarily reimburse foster parents for all costs, it can be anywhere from $400-600 per month, depending on the age and level of need of the child. Children in foster care have medical and dental insurance through the state, so foster parents do not need to add them to their insurance. The state offers a small yearly stipend for clothing, and there are also community resources to help with clothing and other special circumstances, such as prom dresses or graduation costs.

A foster care placement can last anywhere from three to 24 months, or even longer at times.

Being nurturing, loving, patient, and having good communication skills are key attributes for a foster parent to have. Foster parents should understand the needs of the children in foster care and be team players.

Reunification is always the goal of foster care. It is important that foster parents form a bond with the child and invest in their future by providing a loving and nurturing home. We hear from many foster families that although it is difficult when a child leaves, they feel grateful to have made a positive difference and to have helped a family come back together.

In some cases, foster parents and birth parents establish a positive working relationship, and the foster parents remain a support to the family, even after the child returns home.