Director Elizabeth Hertel visits Wayne County MDHHS office to discuss successes of the kinship care program.

Michigan Invests in Kinship Care Initiatives to Support Families and Children

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reaffirming its commitment to kinship care as an effective strategy for ensuring the well-being of children who cannot remain with their parents. In a recent gathering held at the MDHHS South Central Wayne Office in Detroit, Director Elizabeth Hertel met with kinship caregivers, advisory council members, and support staff to discuss the state’s ongoing plans for enhancing kinship care services.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 reflects a significant commitment to this effort, allocating nearly million to provide timely and effective services aimed at safeguarding children. The emphasis on kinship care recognizes the importance of familial connections in the lives of children during times of crisis.

Kinship care, defined as the full-time care and nurturing of children by relatives or other important adults in their lives, helps maintain stability and continuity for children. Potential caregivers can include grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, or family friends. Importantly, kinship arrangements can be made either through the MDHHS foster care system or directly between parents and caregivers outside of the child welfare framework.

“Michigan has been a national leader in kinship care and believes children who need placements outside their homes should be placed with relatives or other close family friends whenever possible,” Hertel stated. “This philosophy helps children preserve relationships with familiar faces and communities, which is vital for their overall development.”

Current statistics underscore the importance of these initiatives: the foster care system in Michigan includes approximately 10,000 children, with nearly half placed with relatives. Such placements are known to reduce trauma and the potential psychological impacts associated with traditional foster care. To expand and enhance kinship support, MDHHS is piloting the implementation of kinship support workers across nine counties, which has proven effective in identifying caregivers and facilitating placement services. The proposed budget for FY2026 includes .4 million earmarked for a statewide expansion of this program.

In partnership with Michigan State University’s Kinship Care Resource Center (KCRC), MDHHS is dedicated to providing comprehensive support to kinship caregivers. Michele Brock, Director of Community Programs at the MSU School of Social Work, emphasizes the importance of these resources, stating, “The Michigan State University Kinship Care Resource Center is proud to support all kinship caregivers raising relative children. With our dedicated navigators—many of whom are kinship caregivers themselves—we strive to ensure families receive the necessary support and information to create safe and stable environments.”

By prioritizing kinship care, Michigan is laying a foundation not only for a responsive child welfare system but also for the sustainable well-being of families across the state. This proactive approach reflects a broader understanding of the critical role that familial connections play in the upbringing of children, particularly during challenging times. As state initiatives continue to evolve, the commitment to kinship care stands out as a model for child welfare systems nationwide.