Michigan's Women, Infants & Children program, providing supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding information, and other resources for healthy mothers & babies.
Information on the Family Independence Program, State Disability Assistance, SSI, Refugee, and other cash assistance.
If you cannot afford child care, payment assistance is available.
Children's Special Health Care Services information and FAQ's.
Information on assistance with home repairs, heat and utility bills, relocation, home ownership, burials, home energy, and eligibility requirements.
Information on the Food Assistance Program, eligibility requirements, and other food resources.
Information about the health care programs available through Medicaid and how to qualify.
Our migrant program works with a number of organizations to provide services for Michigan’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
A federal program which helps persons admitted into the U.S. as refugees to become self-sufficient after their arrival.
Universal caseload, or task-based processing, is a different way of handling public assistance cases.
Information on the Children's Protective Services Program, child abuse reporting procedures, and help for parents in caring for their children.
Information on adoption programs, adoption resources, locating birth parents and obtaining information from adoption records.
Information on Adult Protective Services, Independent Living Services, Adult Community Placement Services, and HIV/AIDS Support Services.
Information on child support services for participants and partners.
Programs for healthy children & families, including immunization, lead poisoning prevention, prenatal smoking cessation, and many others.
Information on the Children's Foster Care program and becoming a Foster Parent.
Information about the Michigan law that requires certain information be made available to a woman who is seeking an abortion at least 24 hours prior to the abortion procedure.
Information on treatment and services for juvenile offenders, success stories, and more.
Child Welfare Medical and Behavioral Health Resources
MDHHS and partners support a continuum of prevention services. The continuum is inclusive of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention activities. Visit this page to learn more.
Information about injury and violence prevention programs in Michigan
Information on Safe Sleep for your baby, how to protect your baby's life.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) Environmental Health Bureau (EHB) uses the best available science to reduce, eliminate, or prevent harm from environmental, chemical, and physical hazards.
Information, sources of data and resources to support Firearm Injury Prevention efforts across the state of Michigan.
Medical Resources for Child Protection
Serves as liaison and provides funding to Michigan’s 45 local health departments.
Adult Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Services
Information and resources for development of Plans of Safe Care.
Multicultural Health
Prevention of diseases & conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many others.
Information on communicable & chronic diseases.
Home to an array of public health programs, initiatives and interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of women, infants, families and communities.
Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records
Boards and Commissions
Bridge Card Participation Information on Electronic Benefits for clients and businesses, lists of participating retailers and ATMs, and QUEST.
Provider Payments Information on the direct deposit of State of Michigan payments into a provider's bank account.
Information on How to Bid, Requests for Proposals, forms and publications, contractor rates, and manuals.
Information & resources for Community and Faith-Based partners
Information on DHS Applications and Forms grouped by category.
State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP)
Health Care Providers
Licensing information for Adult Foster Care and Homes for the Aged, Child Day Care Facilities, Child Caring Institutions, Children's Foster Care Homes, Child Placing Agencies, Juvenile Court Operated Facilities and Children's or Adult Foster Care Camps.
Michigan Statewide Systems of Care
Information on the grant awarded for the State Innovation Model Proposal
Protect MiFamily -Title IV-E Waiver
Offers resources for agencies who operate the Weatherization Assistance Program in the state of Michigan
Information on resources in your community and volunteer recruitment and training, and services provided at local DHS offices.
Information is collected to monitor the general health and well-being of Michigan citizens.
Equal Opportunity, Legal Base, Laws and Reporting Welfare Fraud information.
A variety of reports & statistics for programs and services.
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Every child deserves to experience a loving and nurturing home. Caregivers play an important role in providing stability and care for children who need it most. Even the best caregivers can benefit from an occasional break. Michigan’s Respite Care program provides that much needed resource across the state.
Respite care offers temporary relief to caregivers by providing short-term care for youth in foster care (or wards under MDHHS supervision). It allows caregivers to take a break and recharge while ensuring that youth in care continue to receive the support and attention they need. It is a rewarding break for caregivers and something the children look forward to.
If you want to make a difference for both children in foster care as well as compassionate caregivers across the state, consider becoming a respite care provider. As a respite care provider, you can say yes or no to dates and times that work for you and decide which respite requests you feel comfortable accepting. Respite care is compensated at varying rates. Local agencies managing respite care will be able to provide more information. If you want to get involved, we encourage you to find and contact the local agency in your county.
Eligible children include abuse and neglect wards, dual wards and juvenile justice wards under MDHHS supervision in any of the following placements:
Unlicensed Providers
Licensed Providers
Contracted
All three types of respite providers are eligible for reimbursement via a specified rate separate from any foster care rate.
If you are interested in caring for youth in foster care, respite care is the perfect way to get involved. Please view the map and reach out to your agency contact to learn more about the licensing process.
In 1899, Good Will Farm began as an orphanage in the Copper Country, providing a home and school to children from the Upper Peninsula. In 2012, their name changed to U.P. Kids, but their mission has remained the same—caring for children and building brighter futures.
Located in Houghton, Michigan, U.P. Kids provides opportunities for those who have a spirit of helping others and volunteerism in their various programs. U.P. Kids offers foster home and respite licensing in all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula.
If you are interested in becoming a respite care provider for children in your community, contact U.P. Kids.
Founded in 2023 by Michelle Dulaney and Johni Bunch, Heart for Home serves families in Southwestern Michigan. The organization was created by people who understand foster care inside and out, their perspective comes from personal experience.
Heart for Home is a unique program. Those who provide respite care for the agency are fully licensed foster homes; however, they cannot take full-time placement of a child. They are only able to provide respite care.
Heart for Home strives to build a community rooted in support, understanding, and compassion—a community where foster, adoptive, and kinship families can turn to for strength and encouragement. If you are interested in providing care or receiving care, visit Heart For Home’s website.
Spaulding for Children, a private, non-profit child welfare agency, was established in 1968 when several entities, each seeking a way to make life better for children without families, joined together. Spaulding for Children is located in Southfield, Michigan.
Spaulding’s respite program serves Oakland and Macomb counties. Spaulding for Children envisions all youth having a sense of belonging while living in safe, stable environments with the help they need to thrive in life.
If you would like to learn more about the respite care program, contact Spaulding for Children.
Based in Flint with six offices located around Michigan, the center was founded in 1978 by Robert Ennis. Ennis Center for Children serves communities in Mid-eastern Michigan.
Ennis Center for Children’s Respite Program has contributed to the well-being of foster families by providing much-needed temporary relief for full-time foster parents. The program has strengthened placement stability by reducing caregiver burnout and enhancing the overall support system for foster parents and children.
There is currently a need for additional staff members to actively engage the respite communities served, and individuals or families interested in providing respite services. If you are interested in making a difference in your community, contact Ennis Center for Children.
Founded in 1937, Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan (CFS) serves more than 30 counties, with offices in Harbor Springs and Traverse City. Currently, CFS offers two respite programs – Crisis Respite and Planned Respite.
The Planned Respite Program is designed to help youth and families by providing a planned respite, or break. This temporary break allows full-time caregivers to recharge and help to de-escalate stressful home situations.
Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan is looking for more respite care providers. To qualify, you must be a licensed foster parent. If you are not licensed, CFS will help you throughout the licensing process. Visit the CFS website to learn about their available respite opportunities.