The Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Children and Adult Licensing issued an order of summary suspension and notice of intent to revoke the license of Wayne County child placing agency licensee Lula Belle Stewart Center, Inc., 11000 West McNichols, Detroit, Michigan. This action resulted from a recent investigation of a complaint of the child placing agency.

The August 18, 2006 complaint investigation found violations of the Child Care Organizations Act and administrative rules regarding reevaluations of foster family homes, service plans for foster children, staff qualifications, license recommendations, special evaluations, visitations, and reporting of child abuse or neglect. OCAL took emergency action to protect the health, welfare, and safety of children.

Effective 6:00 p.m., August 21, 2006, the Summary Suspension Order prohibits Lula Belle Stewart Center, Inc. from operating a child placing agency at 11000 West McNichols, Detroit, Michigan or at any other address or location. Accordingly, they may not accept children for care after that date and time nor may they provide child placing agency services.

Lula Belle Stewart Center, Inc. has held a license to operate a child placing agency since July 15, 1993.

Michigan law defines a child placing agency as, "a governmental organization or an agency organized under the non-profit corporation act 1982 PA 162, MCL 450.2101 to 450.3192, for the purpose of receiving children for placement in private family homes for foster care or for adoption. The function of a child placing agency may include investigating applicants for adoption and investigating and certifying foster family homes and foster family group homes as provided in this act. The function of a child placing agency may also include supervising children who are 16 or 17 years of age and who are living in unlicensed residences as provided in section 5(4)."