Foster Parenting is Life Changing – for Everyone
Right now, hundreds of children in our community are waiting for a safe place to land. Opening your home to a child in foster care is one of the most meaningful ways to make a lasting difference.
In Michigan, more than 10,000 children—about 450 right here in Kent County—are currently in foster care. While the goal is often to reunite children with their families, they need stability, safety and care in the meantime.
That’s where foster parents step in. With extra love, space in your home and plenty of patience, you can provide exactly what a child needs during a critical time. And you don’t have to do it alone—organizations like Family Bound are there to guide and support you every step of the way.
Read on to learn more about foster parenting and how you can enter to WIN a fun prize package from Family Bound.
What Makes a Good Foster Parent?
Foster parenting is a powerful way to impact a child’s life during a time they need it most.
Children in foster care often come from hard situations and need consistency, understanding and a place where they can begin to heal. It takes time, flexibility and a lot of patience—but it can also be incredibly meaningful.
So what does it take? Foster parents should be ready to:
- Work alongside a child’s birth family
- Support efforts to reunite families when possible
- Care for children with emotional or behavioral needs
- Guide teens as they prepare for independent living
- Provide a long-term home if reunification isn’t possible
For many foster parents, it comes down to something simple but powerful:
“The biggest thing to know about foster parenting,” says foster parent Ashley G., “is that the kids just need love. They just need to feel loved and feel safe.”
If this sounds like a role you could step into, read on to learn about how you can become a foster parent.
Getting Started: What to Know
Ready to take the next step? The process of becoming a foster parent might feel overwhelming at first, but you won’t be doing it alone.
It all begins by connecting with a Foster Care Navigator—experienced foster parents who help guide you through every step. They’ll answer your questions, help you choose an agency and make sure you feel confident moving forward.
From there, you’ll attend an orientation and submit your application. You’ll also complete free training sessions and go through a home evaluation. But don’t let that part intimidate you. “The home evaluation is not super intense,” says Ashley. “They just come to check everything out and ensure your home is safe for children.”
Once all of these steps are completed and approved (a process that typically takes about three – six months), you’ll be licensed and ready to welcome a child into your home.
Along the way, organizations like Family Bound’s Region 3 Resource Team provide support through training, mentoring, ongoing education and even fun events for the whole family—so you’re never navigating this journey on your own.
It’s also important to remember the heart behind foster care. The goal is to safely reunite children with their families whenever possible. “We always told our foster kids that we are just helping out their parents,” explains Ashley. “We aren’t trying to replace them.”
FAQs
Will a caseworker visit our home to check on us?
Yes. A caseworker will visit your home at least once a month. You can also get assistance from local support groups, other foster parents, caseworkers, doctors and more.
What can foster parents do for children?
Foster parents can love and accept the children placed with them without trying to replace their parents. Provide them with everything they need: a normal family life, a sense of belonging, food, health care, education, extracurriculars and anything else you’d give your own children.
Do foster parents have full responsibility for foster children in their home?
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) shares responsibility with the foster parents.
The parents are responsible for the day-to-day care of the child, while MDHHS carries overall responsibility for decisions about the child.
What if I need help with the child in my care?
A worker from MDHHS makes regular visits to the home to help with any problems or concerns.
Foster parents are expected to discuss any issues that come up so he/she can provide support and assistance or find a new placement for the child if necessary.
How do I know if I’d be a good foster parent?
Foster parenting requires a lot of patience and compassion. Foster parents understand that the children that come to them are hurting and that it takes a long time to reduce that pain and change the resulting behaviors.
You have to be 18 years old, be of good moral character, be in good health, have an adequate income, and meet other basic standards.
How long will a foster child stay with us?
Foster care is intended to be a temporary placement for the child. Reunification of the family is the primary goal. If that’s not feasible, workers try to place the child in a permanent adoptive home as soon as possible.
Each case is unique; you could keep a child for a few months or even a year.
How many children may foster parents care for at one time?
No more than four foster children can be placed in a home at one time.
MDHHS expects a foster child to have his own bedroom or share a room with another child of the same gender. Every effort is made to place brothers and sisters in the same home.
Will I receive a stipend to help with food and clothing costs?
Twice monthly, you’ll receive monthly payments, based on the age and needs of the child. You will also receive a semi-annual clothing allowance.
Children in foster care are eligible for Medicaid, which pays for medical, dental and mental health care. Children ages five and under also qualify for WIC which covers formula for infants and healthy foods like fruits and vegetables for older kids.
Many foster families will also qualify for reimbursement for the costs of child care.
I’m not interested in being a foster parent, but I still want to help. What can I do?
You can become a court-appointed special advocate (CASA). You’ll follow a child’s case through the court system while looking out for his best interests.
Other ways you can help are:
– Tutor a foster child for free – either in academics or extracurriculars
– Donate clothes, suitcases and baby supplies so the kids don’t have to travel from home to home with their clothes in a garbage bag
– Offer to help foster parents take their children to activities and appointments
– Volunteer at the office
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
Being a foster parent is challenging, but seeing kids reach milestones, gain confidence and heal are some of the best outcomes.
For a child in foster care, even a temporary home can have a lifelong impact. The stability, care and compassion you provide can help them heal, grow and feel safe again.
If you’ve ever wondered whether fostering might be right for your family, call 1-855-MICHKIDS to speak to a Foster Care Navigator.
But Wait! There’s More!
May is Foster Care Awareness Month. To celebrate, Family Bound is offering a fun giveaway.
One (1) lucky reader will win a 25 oz travel mug with the Family Bound logo, a Talking Point card set to ignite fun discussions for families, the book Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love and a 4-pack of tickets to Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.
What a fun way to celebrate fostering and welcome spring at Meijer Gardens!
Enter Here
Fill out the form below to be entered to WIN this fun prize.
| FINE PRINT: This giveaway will close on April 29, 2026, at 11 PM and the winners will be notified via email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond by email accepting the prize. No purchase necessary to enter the contest. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to grkids.com and not to Facebook. Entrants will release Facebook from all liability. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age and reside in Michigan. Only one entry per household or IP address. Grand Rapids Kids’ liability is limited to the value of the prize. |
