Welcome to the Child Welfare Medical and Behavioral Health Resources webpages, formerly know as Fostering Mental Health. The information in this section is a collaborative effort between MDHHS and many partner organizations across the State of Michigan. Our goal is to provide child welfare health information which focuses on three main ideas: safety, permanency, and wellbeing. Whether you're a casual visitor, parent, foster parent, case manager, child welfare professional, or medical provider; there will be useful information to discover in the sections below.
About Us: The Permanency and Wellbeing Unit plays a critical role in advancing the safety, stability, and long-term success of children and youth in Michigan’s foster care system. Our work is centered on ensuring that every child receives the care, support, and services they need to thrive—whether that means timely access to health evaluations, ethical oversight of psychotropic medications, or achieving permanency through adoption or guardianship.
We operate at the intersection of policy, practice, and partnership—translating state and federal mandates into actionable strategies that improve outcomes for children. Our team collaborates closely with local offices, private agencies, and community mental health providers to ensure services are not only compliant with standards like MiSEP, but also responsive to the real-world needs of children and families.
