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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Foster Care in Michigan
Unregistered 11:25 AM 03-22-2016
I'm a licensed provider in Michigan. I'm wondering if anyone else has ever done foster care? My husband and I are considering it.

But I'm wondering if the foster child would affect my numbers? I really can't afford to give up a paying childcare spot. But we're feeling called to foster! I can only have 6 kids right now but if we got a foster child I would need to allowed to have 7 kids. We would want an older child (ages 5-7). So I guess during the school day they wouldn't be here but then that child would be here during summer and school breaks

I'm just looking for guidance. We feel called to foster care but I'm feeling hesitant about our ability to afford bringing in another child.
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Michael 11:29 AM 03-22-2016
Here are some previous threads on Foster Care: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=foster+care
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momofsix 12:03 PM 03-22-2016
Yes, in MI a foster child does count in your numbers. I've never heard of anyone getting an exemption in MI to have seven kids, but I guess it couldn't hurt to ask your licensing worker.
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Thriftylady 12:06 PM 03-22-2016
In Kansas when we switched to foster, I had to give up my daycare license. They wouldn't allow you to have both.
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Unregistered 12:25 PM 03-22-2016
Ok. I suppose we won't be able to foster. Daycare is my career and I can't give it up. And we cannot afford to give up any paying spots Michigan is desperate for foster parents! I have had foster children in my daycare before and my husband and I always feel a special place for them. I wish there was a way to remain open as a daycare and also give the gift of fostering.

I'll talk to my licensor about it and see if there is anything to be done.

Thanks you guys
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Thriftylady 12:35 PM 03-22-2016
Originally Posted by Unregistered:
Ok. I suppose we won't be able to foster. Daycare is my career and I can't give it up. And we cannot afford to give up any paying spots Michigan is desperate for foster parents! I have had foster children in my daycare before and my husband and I always feel a special place for them. I wish there was a way to remain open as a daycare and also give the gift of fostering.

I'll talk to my licensor about it and see if there is anything to be done.

Thanks you guys
Yeah I think every state is desperate for foster parents. I personally wouldn't do it again. But that is based on my experiences in Kansas. They had auctioned it off to agencies to deal with and our agency was a hot mess. They even "lost" one of the kiddos I had for a weekend. She was the sister of one in my home, and needed a placement but they didn't want them together. They asked me to take her for the weekend so I did for a sibling visit. They didn't fill out the proper paperwork and later said I had never had her and wanted to know why she was on my monthly paperwork. I asked "if I didn't have her tell me where she was". They couldn't of course. It was just one thing after another like that. It was awful. I felt like I did more fighting the system than I did caring for the kids. But that was Kansas so hopefully other states are better.
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Unregistered 12:59 PM 03-22-2016
Most states offer vouchers to foster parents who work full-time. It's the same thing as low income abc vouchers. You just place the child in another daycare/summEr camp/afterschool program. It's fully paid for by the state. Foster children also get free lunch at school.
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Thriftylady 01:17 PM 03-22-2016
Originally Posted by Unregistered:
Most states offer vouchers to foster parents who work full-time. It's the same thing as low income abc vouchers. You just place the child in another daycare/summEr camp/afterschool program. It's fully paid for by the state. Foster children also get free lunch at school.
These things are true, but I wonder if they would pay for child care if you work from home? I suppose it would be something to ask before you decide. Then you have 12 weeks of classes you have to take (we took ours on Sat morning). Most all states require the classes.
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Leigh 05:50 AM 03-23-2016
I am a foster parent. Only children 6 & under count in my numbers. I don't do it, but I COULD send a child to another daycare during my working hours if I didn't have space and didn't want him or her to count against my ratio. Childcare is paid for up to 45 hours per week for foster kids here. I nearly always save a space for a foster child, though, since I can have 12 kids. I suggest contacting your licensor to find out more about regs in your state, and calling MDHHS to find out if childcare is covered for you: http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885...117---,00.html
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morgan24 06:38 AM 03-23-2016
This is copied out of the State of MI technical manual. Hope
it answers any questions your have about foster care.

R 400.1909 (1) Concurrent licensing.
(1) The caregiver who is concurrently licensed as a children's foster
home provider shall so inform the parents of the children in
care.
Consultation Best practice is to provide this information to parents in writing and
obtain parental signatures as receipt of this information.
R 400.1909 (2) Concurrent licensing.
(2) The caregiver who provides care for both child care and foster
care children shall not care for more than 8 children, including all
of the following:
(a) Children who are under 17 years of age and who are
related to the caregiver by blood, marriage, adoption, or
legal guardianship.
(b) The capacity of foster children identified on the foster care
license.
(c) All other children who are cared for on a part-time or fulltime
basis.
Technical
Assistance
A caregiver with a dual license must not care for more than 8 children at
any one time. Note: Foster care home licensing rules allow the caregiver
to care for a maximum of 12 children. If the caregiver will care for
more than 8 children, a variance is required to subrule (2) of this rule.
The 8 children counted in the total capacity includes all of the following:
• Any children under the age of 17 residing in the home.
• Number of children shown on the foster care license.
• Number of child care children on the registration/license.
To determine the capacity of the family or group child care home if also
licensed to provide foster care:
• Add the number of children shown on the foster care license.
• Add the number of children under 17 years of age residing in the
home (e.g., guardianship or “fictive kin” placements, biological or
adoptive children, etc.). Do not count the number of foster children
placed in the home.
• Subtract that number from 8.
• The remainder is the child care registration/license capacity.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTATION
FAMILY AND GROUP CHILD CARE HOMES
R 400.1909
07/01/2015
R 400.1909 2 of 2 FAMILY AND GROUP CHILD CARE HOMES
07/01/2015 STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPT OF LICENSING & REGULATORY AFFAIRS
R 400.1909
The capacity of the certificate of registration/license may need to be
reduced.
Example 1: There are 2 biological children (under 17) of the caregiver
residing in the home and the caregiver is licensed for 2 foster
care children. A certificate of registration may be issued for a maximum
of 4 children if the caregiver is in compliance with all other
rule requirements.
Example 2: There are no children residing in the home and the
caregiver is licensed for 1 foster care child. A license may be
issued for a maximum of 7 children if the caregiver is in compliance
with all other rule requirements.
R 400.1909 (3) Concurrent licensing.
(3) The caregiver shall notify the department when applying for a
foster care license.
Rationale Assures the department is aware of potential changes in the composition
of the child care home.
Technical
Assistance
For the purposes of this subrule, the department refers to the Child
Care Licensing Division.fully it answers your questions about foster care.
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Unregistered 10:09 AM 03-23-2016
Awesome. That says you do get additional slots for foster care.
Reply
284878 05:47 PM 03-23-2016
Originally Posted by morgan24:
This is copied out of the State of MI technical manual. Hope
it answers any questions your have about foster care.

R 400.1909 (1) Concurrent licensing.
(1) The caregiver who is concurrently licensed as a children's foster
home provider shall so inform the parents of the children in
care.
Consultation Best practice is to provide this information to parents in writing and
obtain parental signatures as receipt of this information.
R 400.1909 (2) Concurrent licensing.
(2) The caregiver who provides care for both child care and foster
care children shall not care for more than 8 children, including all
of the following:
(a) Children who are under 17 years of age and who are
related to the caregiver by blood, marriage, adoption, or
legal guardianship.
(b) The capacity of foster children identified on the foster care
license.
(c) All other children who are cared for on a part-time or fulltime
basis.
Technical
Assistance
A caregiver with a dual license must not care for more than 8 children at
any one time. Note: Foster care home licensing rules allow the caregiver
to care for a maximum of 12 children. If the caregiver will care for
more than 8 children, a variance is required to subrule (2) of this rule.
The 8 children counted in the total capacity includes all of the following:
• Any children under the age of 17 residing in the home.
• Number of children shown on the foster care license.
• Number of child care children on the registration/license.
To determine the capacity of the family or group child care home if also
licensed to provide foster care:
• Add the number of children shown on the foster care license.
• Add the number of children under 17 years of age residing in the
home (e.g., guardianship or “fictive kin” placements, biological or
adoptive children, etc.). Do not count the number of foster children
placed in the home.
• Subtract that number from 8.
• The remainder is the child care registration/license capacity.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTATION
FAMILY AND GROUP CHILD CARE HOMES
R 400.1909
07/01/2015
R 400.1909 2 of 2 FAMILY AND GROUP CHILD CARE HOMES
07/01/2015 STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPT OF LICENSING & REGULATORY AFFAIRS
R 400.1909
The capacity of the certificate of registration/license may need to be
reduced.
Example 1: There are 2 biological children (under 17) of the caregiver
residing in the home and the caregiver is licensed for 2 foster
care children. A certificate of registration may be issued for a maximum
of 4 children if the caregiver is in compliance with all other
rule requirements.
Example 2: There are no children residing in the home and the
caregiver is licensed for 1 foster care child. A license may be
issued for a maximum of 7 children if the caregiver is in compliance
with all other rule requirements.
R 400.1909 (3) Concurrent licensing.
(3) The caregiver shall notify the department when applying for a
foster care license.
Rationale Assures the department is aware of potential changes in the composition
of the child care home.
Technical
Assistance
For the purposes of this subrule, the department refers to the Child
Care Licensing Division.fully it answers your questions about foster care.
I was told that foster kids license number would count against my day care number. (my foster license was for 4 and I was told that my day care license could only be for 2) Even if I did not have the kids in care. If you would like to help foster care but can not afford to loose spots over it. I would suggest that you take the pride classes and sign up for respite care (you can take kids with out license for up to 5 days over night). Some of the rules are the same but their are some safety changes that you should make to your home.
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Tags:foster care, michigan regulations
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