Foster Care Program
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) contracts with GLRC to provide foster care recruitment, training and retention services across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Regional Resource Team (RRT) members are located throughout the region to ensure that the entire Upper Peninsula has local resources available. You can stay up to date with GLRC’s RRT by following their Yoopers Get Attached Facebook page.
Click here to see the upcoming Foster Care events.
Foster Care
Foster Care Recruitment
GLRC’s MDHHS Regional Resource Team (RRT) is here to support you through all steps of your journey to becoming a licensed foster care family in the State of Michigan. Contact Donna Burns, Foster Care Program Supervisor, to learn who the RRT member is in your region.
Foster Care Training
GLRC’s Regional Resource Team (RRT) provides GROW training for all new foster families in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This is a 24-hour, required training and is offered virtually. During this course, you will learn about Child Development, Attachment, Trauma, Toxic Stress, Diversity, Childhood Mental Health and more. GROW trainings are scheduled several months in advance. View the GROW Training Schedule to find upcoming trainings.
Foster Care Retention Services
Foster Care Retention Events throughout the U.P. are organized through GLRC’s Regional Resource Team (RRT), along with local MDHHS offices and private adoption agencies.
Find more information about Foster Care events on the Yoopers Get Attached Facebook page.
Resources for Prospective Foster Families
Visit the Foster Care Navigator page to view a variety of information about foster care in Michigan, including:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What it means to Become a Foster Parent
- Information on Finalizing and Receiving your License
You can learn more about becoming a foster parent through this brochure entitled ‘Where Do I Begin' or this piece called ‘The Foster Child‘.
Additional Foster Care training can be found on the Fostering Forward Michigan Training Institute website.
U.P. Foster Closets
U.P. Foster Closets can help any foster family with clothing, supplies, household needs and other resources:
U.P. Foster Closet of Chippewa County
Phone: 906-478-6220
U.P. Foster Closet of Delta County
Phone: 906-398-9012
U.P. Foster Closet of Dickinson County
Phone: 906-396-2247
U.P. Foster Closet of Iron County
Phone: 310-529-5121
U.P. Foster Closet of Marquette County
Phone: 906-235-6472
U.P. Foster Closet of Menominee County
Phone: 920-249-4162
Mental Health Resources for U.P. Foster Families
If you or your child are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or contact Copper Shores Community Support & Outreach, the UP’s 24/7 crisis and outreach center at (906) 482-HELP (4357).
GLRC has a variety of mental health services specifically for children and adolescents. These services include psychiatric care, outpatient counseling, medical care and trauma assessments and can be found on the Child & Adolescent Services page of our website. We also offer outpatient counseling for adults, as well as a continuum of substance use disorder services. For more information or to access services, call (906) 228-9696.
Upper Peninsula Community Mental Health Agencies:
To access specialty mental health services through one of the Community Mental Health agencies in the Upper Peninsula, call NorthCare Access at 1-888-906-9060 or 906-225-4433 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Copper Country Mental Health — Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties.
- Gogebic County Community Mental Health — Gogebic County
- Hiawatha Behavioral Health — Eastern Upper Peninsula
- Northpointe — Dickinson, Iron and Menominee Counties
- Pathways — Alger, Delta, Luce and Marquette counties.
Healthcare Resources for U.P. Foster Families
The Upper Peninsula Health Plan provides health coverage for individuals enrolled in Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan, MIChild, Children’s Special Health Care Services, MI Health Link and Medicare Advantage.
Upper Peninsula Health Departments:
- Chippewa County Health Department — Chippewa County.
- Public Health — Delta and Menominee counties.
- Dickinson-Iron District Health Department — Dickinson and Iron counties.
- LMAS District Health Department — Luce, Mackinac, Alger and Schoolcraft counties.
- Marquette County Health Department — Marquette County.
- Western Upper Peninsula Health Department — Baraga, Houghton, Gogebic, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties.
Ways You Can Help
If fostering is not a good fit for you, but you would like to help, there are many ways to get involved. Foster families have a need for everything from meals for a new foster family, tutoring, sports fees and more. If interested, please complete the Respite Caregiver Information Form and email it to Donna Burns (dburns@greatlakesrecovery.org), Foster Care Program Supervisor, to let her know your interests.
Contact
Foster Care Services
Donna Burns
(920) 517-8733
dburns@greatlakesrecovery.org