Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel recently met with kinship caregivers, advisory council members, and support staff at the MDHHS South Central Wayne Office in Detroit. The meeting focused on the state's ongoing commitment to kinship care as a means to keep children safely with their families. Governor Gretchen Whitmer's FY2026 budget proposal includes nearly $90 million aimed at providing timely and effective services to ensure child safety.

Kinship care involves full-time care by family members or other significant adults in a child's life, such as grandparents or family friends. It can occur through the foster care system or private arrangements between parents and caregivers.

“Michigan has been a national leader in kinship care and believes children who need placements outside their homes should be placed with relatives or other close family friends whenever possible,” stated Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “This allows children to maintain connections with relatives, friends and communities they know and aligns with our priority to keep families together when it is safe to do so.”

MDHHS has initiated pilot programs for kinship support workers across nine counties to assist in identifying potential caregivers and provide necessary support. The proposed budget allocates $24.4 million for statewide expansion of this program.

“I'm excited about the reach these budget items will have,” expressed Lara Bouse, executive director of Fostering Forward Michigan. “Providing funding that creates access to supports and resources for all kinship families across the state will go a long way to support families."

Currently, 10,000 children are part of Michigan’s foster care system; almost half reside with relatives. Such placements help reduce trauma associated with foster care transitions. MDHHS collaborates with Michigan State University's Kinship Care Resource Center (KCRC) for caregiver training and support.

“The Michigan State University Kinship Care Resource Center is proud to support all kinship caregivers raising relative children," said Michele Brock from MSU School of Social Work. KCRC offers statewide toll-free service at 800-535-1218 designed specifically for kinship families.

Governor Whitmer’s FY26 budget also proposes:

- $27 million for at-risk family independence.

- $17.5 million for improved adoption supports.

- $13.3 million for enhanced treatment foster care services.

- $10.6 million following juvenile justice reform recommendations.

- $1.9 million supporting older youth independent living services.

- $3.5 million aiding young adults transitioning out of welfare systems.

- $325,700 supporting Native American family preservation efforts.