Fostering Futures has collected these referrals from families, colleagues and other resources in the community. However Fostering Futures has not necessarily utilized each of these services directly, and therefore Fostering Futures cannot guarantee the quality of services you will receive. We welcome feedback as it will help us create a strong, high-quality referral base.
Adoptive Family Support Network
AFSN provides support, education, information and referral to adoptive parents. AFSN supports all kinds of families and all types of adoptions through:
Statewide Parent to Parent Program
Adoption Support Groups
Adoptive Parent Seminars / Training / Workshops
Adoptive Family Fun Events
Fostering Forward
A coalition of Michigan foster families and families who have adopted out of foster care, working together to promote better service and better outcomes for the children in our care. Also has a "toolbox" of resources for foster/adoptive families, which you can find here: http://www.fosteringforwardmi.org/foster-parent-toolbox.html
HELPING tRAUMATIZED CHILDREN LEARN
Creating and Advocating for Trauma-sensitive Schools
Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange
MARE is a statewide information and referral service for families interested in adopting children from foster care, and for adoption workers looking for homes for these children. The MARE website provides a listing of waiting children in Michigan and of Michigan families interested in adopting children with special needs.
The Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange is a program of Judson Center and is funded by The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Michigan Alliance for Families
Advocacy, Education and resources for Special Education
www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org
Contact: Kristen Columbus, (734) 662-1256 ext 203, kristen@michiganallianceforfamilies.org
Keywords: IEP, IFSP, Special Education, Disability, Accommodation, IDEA, Section 504, NCLB, ADA, MARSE, PLAAF, ADD, ADHD, Autism, ASD, Down Syndrome, FASD, Fetal Alcohol
Michigan Education Trust
College scholarship assistance to youth who have experienced foster care
Contact: Student Scholarships and Grants, 1-888-4-GRANTS (888-447-2687), ssg@michigan.gov
Keywords: scholarship, financial aid, college
IMPORTANT NOTE: The "Fostering Futures Scholarship" (or FFS) is an MET program, and has no affiliation with "Fostering Futures," the foster care and adoption Agency.
MUSLIM FOSTER CARE ASSOCIATION
Providing support and advocacy to Muslim children in foster care, including support groups, welcome packages to youth in care, Ramadan and Eid packages to youth in care, and education to the community.
Keywords: Muslim, Islam, Ramadan, Eid
Student Advocacy Center
Advocacy and support / Helping kids stay in school
Contact: Email contact@studentadvocacycenter.org or visit their website for address and phone number information for each office (Washtenaw, Jackson and Wayne counties).
Keywords: expulsion, expelled, discipline, truancy, public education, intervention, student rights, advocacy
Michigan Colleges and Universities
Several Michigan colleges and universities offer programs to provide extra support to students who have experienced foster care. Eligibility for each program may vary; services may include one-on-one coaching and/or connection with resources in areas such as:
Housing Assistance • Employment Assistance • Academic Advising & Monitoring • Guidance in navigating admissions, transitions, transfers, etc. • Budgeting/Financial management • Counseling & Support • Career Planning • Accessing campus & community resources • Financial Aid • Connections to social and recreational activities • Mentoring • Life Skills Labs & Workshops
Eastern Michigan University
MAGIC Program, Joi rencher, jrencher@emich.edu
Grand Valley State University
Fostering Laker Success, Jessica Campbell, 616-331-2748, campbej1@gvsu.edu, www.gvsu.edu/cwge/fosteringlakersuccess
Michigan State University
FAME program, https://socialwork.msu.edu/Programs/Community-Outreach/FAME
University of Michigan
Blavins Scholars Program, Emily Hurtado-Arboleda
Washtenaw Community College
REACH Program, Kathy Stewart LMSW, (734) 973-3572
Wayne State University
CHAMPS program (for youth who have experienced foster care on or after their 14th birthday)
Alexandra Bolin BSW, alexandranbolin@gmail.com, 734-642-6179
Health care power of attorney
While Fostering Futures cannot provide legal advice, we do want to make people aware of a free and accessible health care power of attorney, available on the UM website.
Michigan Medicine also has a good health care power of attorney form (and it’s free): https://www.uofmhealth.org/patient-visitor-guide/advance-directives