Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By Ian Minielly
Bessemer — On average 27 kids per year in Gogebic County need placement with a relative or foster family. There are currently six Michigan Department of Health and Human Services licensed foster parents and three private agency licensed parents currently shouldering this burden locally, which is significantly lower than the county needs. That makes eight homes in the county able to accept at least one child, if the fostering parameters match the need, leaving a significant number of this areas kids being sent away to outside area foster parents, some as far as Germfask, according to Juvenile Family Court Judge Joel Massie.
When an available relative or licensed foster home does not match the need, placement is arranged with outside counties to care for the children, which frequently also necessitates disrupting brothers and sisters. According to the MDHHS, 33 Gogebic County children are currently placed in foster homes outside of the county, but still within the UP. 51 total kids have been removed from their parents in Gogebic County and only 16 are actually in the county, according to Massie.
There is a drastic shortage of foster parents in the immediate area, which impacts other areas when Gogebic children occupy the available foster parents of other counties. The MDHHS says it is best for the kids, to keep them in an area they already know, around kids they know, and in a school they are familiar with, but this cannot be done in the majority of cases due to the shortage of available foster parents. Tracie Wittla, assistant prosecuting attorney said, “Having local foster homes helps kids keep these connections and makes it a little easier for them,” as they transition.
If a foster parent is a temporary caregiver meeting the individual needs of foster children in their care by integrating them into their home, providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment, then many families in Gogebic County fit this criteria and are eligible to get licensed. Historically, church members make up a significant number of foster parents.
The process of becoming a foster parent can seem arduous because the MDHHS wants to make sure prospective parents can provide safe and loving homes for children placed in their care. MDHHS does not want a kid removed from a troubled home and placed in another troubled home. “Studies have shown taking kids from bad families is still highly traumatic on the kids and the foster parents will often have children with huge needs. Children are frequently drug exposed, lack proper nutrition, and are developmentally challenged, lacking regular living skills that make it very challenging on the foster parents,” said Massie.
The MDHHS goal with prospective foster parents is a completed application within 180 days, for both relative and non-relative foster homes. While Gogebic County is meeting this goal, they have a shortage of families already licensed and in the pipeline. This weekend at Range Community Bible Church in Hurley, the MDHHS is sponsoring a two-day mandatory training event called PRIDE Training that prospective foster parents usually have to travel out of town for.
The application process for fostering involves an in-depth home study by Foster Home Licensing workers. They evaluate the physical home, conduct reference checks and criminal and child abuse/neglect checks, in-depth interviews of relational and parenting practices, a financial evaluation, interviews with biological children, back-up caregiver checks, and in rural areas an inspection and check of septic tanks and water wells. All of this takes time, but the intent is to ensure the kids placed are placed in good safe homes.
One of the difficulties facing foster parents is the fact foster care, by design, is intended as a temporary placement. The vast majority of children in foster care are reunited with their parents or primary care-giver within months or maybe as long as a year, depending on the circumstances. It is only natural for feelings of love to develop during this time, but the foster family must remember the situation is a temporary blessing with lasting impact both ways and opportunity and the goal, if possible, is reunification.
Foster parents are not without rights and can say no when DHHS contacts them with a potential placement due to many circumstances. During the licensing process, the foster parents express their desired ages, gender, number, and willingness to accept special-needs kids and this criteria is reevaluated yearly.
Foster parents are not expected to carry the financial burden entirely on their own. The county and state issue foster parents an initial and semi-annual clothing allowance, based on need, a financial reimbursement in the form of a per diem based on the age and care needs, and also full covers the medical costs of the children. According Massie, “Gogebic County is paying $12,361 per month for the kids in their care and the expenses are as high as they have ever been.”
Foster parenting is a huge responsibility and the MDHHS attempts to aid and relieve as many burdens as possible before they become problems. In an effort to give the foster parents breaks so they can stay rejuvenated, respite or back up caregivers are identified and encouraged for use.
The biggest reason in Gogebic County the last 3-5 years for placement is abuse and neglect by the parents, which includes drug and alcohol abuse. Judge Massie said, “the foster situation is drastically worse now than it has ever been.” Methamphetamine use is creating a problem and many of the children are not historically from this area. The parents moved the children here, got arrested, and then a child with difficult circumstances needs placement in a county with more kids for placement than homes.
For additional information and five steps to become a foster parent and satisfy this need, please visit michigan.gov.mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73971_7117—,00.html.
