About Foster Care

A little girl hugging a women tightly with a giant smile and eyes closed shut from excitement.

Safe, Loving Homes for Every Child

Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and loved—especially during times of uncertainty. At Spaulding for Children, foster care services are built around the belief that nurturing relationships and stable homes can change the course of a child’s life.

Multiracial family laughing together on a couch in a warm, welcoming home

Supporting Children and Empowering Foster Families

As a private, nonprofit foster care agency, we work in partnership with the public child welfare system to support children who have experienced abuse or neglect and need temporary care. We walk alongside foster families every step of the way—recruiting, training, and licensing caregivers who are ready to open their hearts and homes.

Family sitting together on a couch, supporting a child learning on a laptop at home

Strengthening Families, Supporting Futures

Our comprehensive foster care services include placement support, case management, home-based visitation, information and referrals, support groups for both children and parents, and youth mentoring. Together, these services are designed to strengthen families, promote healing, and help children build hope for a brighter future.

Guide to Becoming a Foster Parent

Learn more about the journey to becoming a foster parent and what to expect at each step.

Contact us and we will mail to you a Spaulding for Children Welcome Packet containing:

  • Spaulding’s history;
  • Foster care & adoption informational pamphlets;
  • Information regarding the types of services Spaulding provides;
  • 10 Good Reasons Why You Should Become a Spaulding for Children Parent;
  • The Steps to Become a Foster/Adoptive Resource Family;
  • Request a Welcome Packet

Stacey Oakes
Program Manager
Office: 248-443-0300 ext. 235
Fax: 248-443-2845
Email:  soakes@spaulding.org

Free online orientation sessions are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM and the third Thursday of each month from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM.

Register and complete Orientation.

NOTE: All adults living in the home, i.e. husband & wife, partners, roommates etc., must attend Orientation & all trainings

GROW (Grow, Recognize, Obtain, Work) training is a mandatory 20–25 hour pre-licensure program for prospective foster parents in Michigan. It covers trauma-informed parenting, child development, attachment, and licensing requirements, with many sessions offered virtually via Zoom.

  • Grow culturally responsive relationships.
  • Recognize children’s developmental needs and the impact of trauma.
  • Obtain information and resources.
  • Work in partnership with families to support healthy relationships.

Enroll in G.R.O.W. Training at at NO COST.

Your licensing/adoption worker will schedule a home visit with you to begin the Home Assessment Process.

You will be provided a Checklist for Foster Home Licensing form. This form lists the documentation you must provide to your licensing/adoption specialist.

Once all of the requested documentation has been provided to your specialist and your Home Assessment is complete, your entire file is presented to the Adoption or Foster Home Licensing Supervisor for approval.

Upon successful completion of trainings (see Step 3) and the assessment process (see Step 4), your study along with a recommendation for licensure will be made to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). If MDHHS agrees with the recommendations, a foster home license will be issued and you will become an approved licensed foster resource family.

Upon licensure, you will be eligible to have children placed in your home. Expect to be contacted by the agency for the placement of a foster child or foster children into your home.

To aid in the development of your support network, all newly licensed foster parents are required to participate in a minimum of six (6) Parent Empowerment Group meetings during the first year of becoming licensed through Spaulding for Children.

Throughout your licensing experience, you will be assigned an on-going licensing specialist to assess your progress, provide you with support and help you continue developing your fostering skills.

Ready to Move Forward?

Contact us

For Assistance during the process:

Stacey Oakes
Program Manager
Office: 248-443-0300 ext. 235
Fax: 248-443-2845
Email: soakes@spaulding.org

Attend Orientation

Join us for a free online orientation, held on the second Wednesday and third Thursday of every month.