MICHIGAN FOSTER CARE

There is an over-representation of children of color in the foster care system in Michigan and a task force is making recommendations to prevent and eliminate systemic racism in the child protection system.

The need for foster families has never been greater and it is especially impacting communities Downriver.

DETROIT Imagine having 14 boys under one roof during this pandemic all trying to learn, be entertained and keep their hopes up for adoption. The boys at Christ Child House in Detroit have to be resilient. The boys said they miss their outings to places like the roller rink or to a park, but the staff says donations have helped them keep the boys entertained with Lego sets, movies, music and more. Theyre hoping to rebuild the Christ Child House backyard to give the boys more to do and a better place to escape. For more information on the Christ Child House, visit the official website here.

DETROIT When they need help the most, foster children could soon end up becoming an unintended victim of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Foster care services across Michigan are facing major obstacles in helping ensure children are safe during the COVID-19 crisis. READ: Coronavirus puts critical link of Michigans foster care system in jeopardyExperts said communities were struggling to find foster parents before the pandemic, but now there are many new challenges. Samiritas, the largest provider of foster care services in Michigan, held a town hall meeting Tuesday to talk about how the coronavirus has affected outreach under Gov. We have to ask ourselves, though, is there hope for the foster care system, especially during this season of isolation? asked Brenda Baker-Mbacke, of CASA For CARE House of Oakland County.