Foster Hope, Build Families: How LGBTQ+ Michiganders Can Make a Difference Through Foster Care
More than 6,000 Michigan children in the state foster care system need homes
Ever wondered if foster care is for you? Whether you’re LGBTQ+, single, partnered or somewhere in between — the answer is simple: absolutely.
Right now, roughly 10,000 children are in Michigan’s foster care system. Fewer than 4,000 licensed foster homes exist to meet that need. And while the goal of foster care is always to reunite kids with their families, those children still need a safe, stable and supportive place to land in the meantime.
That’s where you come in.
Here’s what you should know about the process of becoming a foster parent, the impact you can make and how to get started.
What foster care looks like in Michigan
Michigan prioritizes placing children with relatives when possible, but that isn’t always an option. That’s where foster parents step in, providing safe, stable, and nurturing environments for children who have been removed from their homes.
“The challenge of placing children has grown over time,” said Demetrius Starling, senior deputy director for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Children's Services Administration. “Post-Covid, we’re seeing fewer licensed families, which creates a gap between the number of children needing homes and those available.”
MDHHS strives to place children as close to their homes and communities as possible, helping maintain connections with their families, schools and local support systems. The greatest need for foster homes is concentrated in Michigan’s largest counties — Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Genesee and Kent — which together account for over half of the state’s children in care. Expanding foster families in these areas is crucial to keeping children near the people and places they know.
High-need populations include sibling groups — who MDHHS works hard to keep together — and children with developmental, emotional or medical needs.
“Separation from family is a form of trauma in itself,” Starling added. “We need foster parents who are patient, understanding and ready to help children heal.”
LGBTQ+ families are essential to the solution
Despite common misconceptions, LGBTQ+ people — single or married — are fully eligible to become foster parents in Michigan. Monica Jackson, statewide adoptive and foster parent recruitment and retention coordinator with MDHHS, said many LGBTQ+ individuals are surprised to learn this.
“Sexual orientation or marital status has nothing to do with whether you qualify,” she said. “What matters is your desire and ability to care for children.”
Jackson emphasizes that LGBTQ+ families are truly welcomed, supported, and valued within the foster care system. She noted, “Nationally, these families are more likely to follow through with the licensing process than some of their counterparts.”
She also encourages prospective foster parents to explore agencies to find one that aligns with their values, especially if they have concerns about religious or other affiliations or cultural fit. The Foster Care Navigator Program can help with that process (more on that below).
What makes a great foster parent?
There’s no one-size-fits-all mold for a great foster parent. Whether you’re single or partnered or renting or own your home, the key ingredients are emotional readiness, a support network and space in your life — and heart — for a child in need.
“We ask all foster parents to name substitute care providers, people in their lives who can step in when they’re unavailable,” Jackson explained. “Whether you’re single or a couple, what matters is that you have support.”
She emphasizes that children coming into foster care often have complex needs, and successful foster parents are those who approach these children with patience, empathy and a willingness to learn.
The impact is lifelong
Foster care is designed to be temporary, with the ultimate goal of reunification. But even temporary placements leave a lasting imprint.
Jackson recalls a former residential therapy client, a 12-year-old boy who had lived in more than 20 foster homes. “He could name every family he had stayed with and describe each one in detail,” she said. “Children don’t forget. The impact you make stays with them forever.”
She also points to LGBTQ+ families who have gone on to adopt, supported biological families toward reunification or launched initiatives like community foster closets to provide essential items to caregivers.
“Foster care doesn’t just change the child’s life,” she said. “It changes yours.”
Adoption is possible
While the goal of foster care is to reunite children with their birth families, adoption can become a path if reunification isn’t possible. MDHHS prioritizes keeping children with their foster families when adoption becomes necessary to avoid further disruption.
Right now, about 200 children in the Michigan foster care system are legally adoptable and not currently placed with families. The Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (mare.org) maintains a searchable database where potential adoptive parents can learn about these children.
What do I do first?
If you're considering foster care, Jackson said your first step should be reaching out to the Foster Care Navigator Program:
Website: fcnp.org
Phone: 1-855-MICH-KIDS
Navigators are experienced current or former foster or adoptive parents themselves who can answer questions, guide you toward agencies in your area and help you find upcoming orientation sessions. Some are even LGBTQ+ and can provide insight and support throughout the licensing process. You can filter by region on the website to find local opportunities.
Jackson also encourages prospective foster parents to explore different agencies to find one that aligns with their values and needs. “We ask families to consider which agency feels most welcoming and supportive for them,” she said.
Once you choose an agency:
Attend an orientation to learn more.
Submit your free application to become a licensed foster parent.
Complete 24 hours of training, usually offered online.
Pass background and medical clearances and home visits to ensure safety and readiness.
Become licensed, a process that typically takes six months from application.
Where cost is a barrier, MDHHS offers the Family Incentive Grant to help cover essentials like beds or safety updates required for licensing.
“We try to remove as many barriers as possible,” Jackson said.
Opening your heart — and your home
For many LGBTQ+ people, foster care is a way to give back to their communities while expanding the love, support and connection already present in their lives.
“We certainly welcome LGBTQ families to foster,” Jackson said. “I think it helps to fill a need for us, but it could potentially help fill a need for them, too.”
Whether your goal is short-term support or lifelong connection, Michigan’s foster care system is ready to support you. And for the children who need a safe place to land, your home could be the first step to healing.
Interested in fostering? Visit fcnp.org or call 1-855-MICH-KIDS to learn more and take your first step today.
This content is made possible through our partnership with MDHHS.