Sometimes “family” is more than blood relatives. New changes to Michigan’s foster care system redefine what a “relative” is and can include those with close emotional ties to a child who are not blood relatives. Several bills were signed into law this week that affect the foster care system and acknowledge those who are not related but are caregivers as potential placements for kids in need of a home.
The bills not only expand the options for placing children before they end up in foster care, but require trauma-informed training for lawyers who deal with youth in the foster care system.
The series of bills require the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to take a look at how residential treatment and clinical interventions are used for youth in their care. MDHHS will also have to use family-finding and engagement services to connect youth in the foster care system to their relatives and friends. MDHHS will have to submit an annual report to the legislature.
Current foster care homes now have extended licensing and increased capacity with the new laws
You can read all the new laws here:
HB 5975: Requires trauma-informed training for a lawyer appointed to act on behalf of a child in court and a copy can be found here.
HB 5974: Revise the definition of relative in the juvenile code and a copy can be found here.
HB 5977: Requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to conduct an annual needs assessment regarding the utilization of residential treatment and the needs of youth who are referred for clinical interventions and a copy can be found here.
HB 5978: Requires MDHHS to use family finding and engagement company to help connect foster children to family members and friends and a copy can be found here.
HB 5980: Provides extended licensing for certain foster homes and a copy can be found here.
HB 5976: Requires annual report by the Department of Health and Human Services to submit to legislature and a copy can be found here.
HB 5981: Increases capacity for foster youth in state licensed residential facilities and a copy can be found here.
HB 6073: Revises definition of relative in the childcare organizations. The bill will expand the legal definition of relative in Michigan to include fictive kin and a copy can be found here.
HB 6074: Revises definition of relative in the probate code of 1939 and a copy can be found here.
HB 6075: Revises definition of relative in the guardianship assistance act and a copy can be found here.
SB 1166: Requires child placement preference to be given to relatives of the child if they meet all the relevant child protection standards and a copy can be found here.