Foster Care

Foster Care:  Provides temporary family homes for children in the community who are victims of abuse and/or neglect.

Foster families provide stable family care for temporary and permanent wards of the court with the hope of reestablishing the natural family or finding permanent adoptive homes.  Respite Foster Care is also available.

If you are a customer of our Foster Care or Adoption services and you are in crisis,
call (517) 599.7552.

If you are NOT currently a customer of St. Vincent Catholic Charities and you are in crisis,
please call 911 or Ingham Emergency Services at (517) 346.8460.

1. Read about the types of services provided by STVCC Foster Care.
2. Learn how to access Foster Care services.
3. Learn how to become a foster parent.
4. Find out about our hours and location.
5. Find out about volunteer opportunities.
6. Read about the history.
7. Check out our service statistics.

Types of Services Provided

Foster Care and Foster Home Licensing:

• Licensed and expertly trained foster family homes with a 45 mile radius of the Greater Lansing area.
• Supervised Visitation.
• Ongoing personalized training for foster parents.
• Referrals for services for children and their birth families.
• Advocacy for appropriate educational services.
• 24-hour crisis intervention and support.
• Quarterly progress reports.
• Court reporting and advocacy.
• A planning team that includes the therapist, foster parents, children's biological parents, the child, and any other involved professional.
• Weekly individualized therapy with the assigned therapist.
• Family therapy when warranted.
• Preparation for long-term permanent placement such as returning home, adoption or independent living.
• A consulting psychiatrist who evaluates, prescribes and monitors the youth's psychotherapeutic medication if needed.
• Case management services.
• Development of a child-centered adoption profile as needed.

We also collaborate with:

• Child and Family Services to provide children 17-21 with Independent Living Services (housing, job searches, money management, etc.)
• Lutheran Social Services to provide Independent Living Classes
• DHS to provide monetary support for services for children and birth families, Medicaid monitoring, case consultation

Accessing Foster Care Services

The Foster Care Program is designed to provide temporary foster care services for children ages birth through 18 years petitioned for out-of-home placement by the local Family Court due to abuse and/or neglect.

Services are also provided to the families of foster children (primarily legal birth parents).  All of the children served in foster care are at-risk children.

• Respite Foster Care serves children currently being served by CEI Community Mental Health (CMH) under the Family Guidance Program.
• For more information please call (517) 323-4734.

Becoming A Foster Parent

If you are interested in being a foster parent or a respite foster parent please contact Chris Ball at (517) 323.4734 ext. 1601 or e-mail her.

Here are some of the requirements involved:

• Adequate bedroom space. (Appox. 40 sq. ft per child per bedroom).
• Provide references from people other than relatives.
• May be single or married.
• Interviewing will take place with each household member.
• Criminal background checks and finger printing of family members living in your household.
• May rent or own a home.
• Training is provided and required in order to help empower and support you in your new endeavor as a foster parent.

STVCC Foster Care Hours and Location

• Office Hours are Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• STVCC is located at 2800 W. Willow St. Lansing, MI 48917.
  
  
  • To see a map and receive directions, CLICK HERE.

Volunteer Opportunities

Many volunteer opportunities exist for groups and individuals.  Such opportunities include:

• Mentoring children in foster care or adoption.
• Hosting special events, on or off site.  Examples include, holiday parties, special sports or theater opportunities, etc.
• Office Assistant:  Assist case managers with clerical work such as filing and copying, freeing up their time for direct care services.
• Assist in cleaning and organizing family visitation rooms.
  
  
  • For more information call (517) 323.4734 ext. 1615 or CLICK HERE.

History of STVCC Foster Care and Adoption

The agency was founded in 1948 by Msgr. Slowey under direction of the Catholic Lansing Diocese and has continued to grow in response to the community’s needs for foster care and adoption assistance. 

For over 60 years STVCC’s services to children and families have grown to meet the changing needs. 

STVCC Foster Care works with the child, their biological family and foster families in order to work toward empowering the biological family to establish a safe and loving home so the children can return to their care.

Service Statistics

First, here are some Federal and State stats on children in care:

• There are approximately 17,000 children living in Michigan Foster Care.  Over 5,000 of them are eligible for adoption.
• This year approximately 450 children will turn 18 years old while living in Michigan foster care.
• Over 500,000 children living in the United States are in foster care.

Demographic Profiles for The STVCC Foster Care: In progress