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.

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.

GLRC’s RRT, along with local MDHHS offices and private adoption agencies in the UP organize Foster Care Recruitment Events throughout the UP.  Find more information about these events on the Yoopers Get Attached Facebook page.

Resources for Prospective Foster Families

Foster Care Navigator has 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‘.

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 22-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, click the GROW Training Schedule to find upcoming trainings.

Additional Foster Care training can be found on the Fostering Forward Michigan Training Institute website.

Foster Care Retention Services

GLRC’s RRT, along with local MDHHS offices and private adoption agencies in the UP organize Foster Care Retention Events throughout the UP.  Find more information about these events on the Yoopers Get Attached Facebook page.

UP Foster Closets

U.P. Foster Closets help all foster families with supplies, clothing, 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 UP Foster Families

If you or your child are in crisis, please the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or contact Dial Help, the UP’s 24/7 crisis and outreach center.

GLRC has a variety of mental health services specifically for children and adolescents.  These services include psychiatric care, trauma assessments, outpatient counseling, medical care 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 abuse services.

GLRC partners with the Youth Mental Health Project to coordinate the Parent Support Network of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for parents who are concerned about their child’s mental health. This is a free, confidential and virtual support group for UP caregivers.  The group is peer facilitated by parents of UP kids.  Both facilitators of this group are adoptive parents and understand challenges surrounding foster/adoptive families.

Upper Peninsula Community Mental Health Agencies:

• Copper Country Mental Health — Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties.
• Hiawatha Behavioral Health — Eastern Upper Peninsula
• Northpointe — Dickinson, Iron and Menominee Counties
• Pathways — Alger, Delta, Luce and Marquette counties.

Health Resources for UP 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 need everything from meals for a new foster family, tutoring, sports fees and so much more.  Please take a minute to complete this form and send it to Donna Burns, Foster Care Program Supervisor, to let her know your interests.