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Become a Foster Parent!
 

In Washtenaw County in 2001: 179 children were placed into foster care. 
On any given day about 500 children are in out of home placements.

Give the Gift of Love. Help a child through a difficult time. 
Become a Foster Parent.

Washtenaw County Family Independence Agency (FIA) is a licensed child-placing agency.  As such, the Agency needs foster homes to provide care and supervision for children who: 
          -*- have been removed from their families of origin by order of the Family Division of Circuit Court because of neglect and/or abuse or other problems. 
Or,
          -*- are voluntarily placed for less than 30 days by a parent or legal guardian because of an inability to provide proper care and supervision.

Washtenaw County FIA has an acute need for foster homes.  In order to keep the children placed within the county, more licensed foster homes are needed for children of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, all ages and both sexes. 

Contact: Leah Higgins at 734-481-8408 Monday - Thursday 8 am - 5 pm 
    or send an email to higginsl@michigan.gov
    Visit the "Family Independence Agency (FIA)" Website at:
www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/fia/fi_fiafp.html
OPEN YOUR HEART & HOME - BE A FOSTER PARENT

There are many more children in need of temporary care than there are foster parents available. To fill this gap, Washtenaw County FIA is looking for people who 
· want to help children 
· can share their time and their homes 
· are married or unmarried 
· are young or older 
· are any race or religion 
· work outside the home or stay at home 
You will have to complete orientation training and an application, agree to a background check, have a home inspection and personal interview, and be at least 18 years old. 

Take a few minutes to call Leah Higgins (parish member) at Washtenaw County FIA  (734) 481-8408  to see what you can do.

--add the orientation dates or an information meeting date and time. 

Leah Higgins
<higginsl@michigan.gov>
Foster Home Recruitment
Washtenaw County FIA
www.ewashtenaw.org/
government/departments/fia/fi_fiafp.html
 
FOSTER PARENTS NEEDED

Imagine a world in which the concept of "family" is turned on its head, a world in which you are forced to pack your few belongings and move to a new home and a new family. And imagine for a moment that you are the new family taking in a child who is angry, confused and rootless. Very little imagination is required if you are one of the approximately 500 children in foster care in Washtenaw County or one of the foster families who open their hearts and homes to children in desperate need of stability.

Some children need a place to stay for only a few days; others may spend several years in some kind of placement. Many have been abused or neglected by their families and removed by the order of a court. Some of these children may never go home and will need a new permanent family.  Foster/adoptive families are people who take these children into their homes to provide day-to-day care and nurturing.

The foster care "system" is only as good as the people who choose to be a part of it. As more Americans begin to feel responsible for children who are in foster care, the system will become better and better.  There are countless opportunities for you to make a difference in the lives of the children in foster care here. There are also countless excuses for not becoming a foster parent.  But new foster families are desperately needed; the number of licensed family foster homes continues to decline.

Children in foster care feel more secure and do better in school when they are able to stay in the same community where they are growing up. Make your own neighborhood a welcoming place for kids in foster care - find out how you can help.

Take a few minutes to call Leah Higgins (parish member) at Washtenaw County FIA at (734) 481-8408 <higginsl@michigan.gov> to see what you can do. Take a few minutes to learn more about the foster care system at the following websites: www.casey.org/cnc, www.cwla.org,  www.nfpainc.org, and www.ewashtenaw.org/
government/departments/fia/fi_fiafp.html
Click Here to learn more about Mentoring a Child!

Questions about information on this page should be directed to Scott Wright (734-821-2121) <swright@rc.net> Parish Social Ministry Director, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

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