Clinton County Department of Human Services
The Clinton County Department of Human Services is in need of caring individuals who can provide a safe and nurturing home environment for children who have been placed out of their home due to abuse or neglect. Foster Care is founded on the premise that all children have the right to physical care, educational encouragement, and emotional nurturance. The family foster care program is designed to provide a substitute family life experience for a child in a household that has been approved and licensed by the Michigan Department of Human Services.
Children may need foster care for a temporary or extended period of time. The primary goal during foster care is to reunite the child with his or her parents with the foster family having an active and important role in the treatment plan. Under the “team” approach, foster parents and case workers labor together in the attempt to advocate for and help a child and their biological family become reunited.
When a child cannot be reunited with their parents, the children are prepared for permanent placement, with relatives or non-relative, adoptive families. Under certain circumstances, a foster family may adopt the children in their care. When adoption of a child is not possible, the main goal of the foster family and case worker is to prepare the youth for independent living.
Foster Care is seen as a short term solution to an emergency situation. Clinton County needs committed individuals who are:
· Willing to work with and mentor the child’s birth parents.
· Supportive of efforts to return the child home.
· Able to work with children who have significant emotional and behavioral needs.
· Willing to take in older youth (10-17).
· Able to encourage teens toward independent living.
· Willing to take in sibling groups.
If you think you are able to help out, please contact the Clinton County Department of Human Services Foster Home Recruiter Andrea Villanueva at 989-224-5548 or Villanuevaa@michigan.gov for more information.