2026 Families of Excellence

Pictured clockwise from top left: the Hileman family, the Dera family, Emily & Kaden Smith, and Marcus Culp.

MDHHS and the Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parent Collaborative Council have hosted the Foster, Adoptive and Kinship (FAK) Parent Conference for 13 years, bringing families together for a weekend of connection, learning and support.

During this year’s conference, we recognized four Families of Excellence: Jessica Hileman (Adoptive Family of Excellence), Jen & Denny Dera (Foster Family of Excellence), Marcus Culp (Kinship Family of Excellence), and Emily & Kaden Smith (Teresa Marvin Family Partnership Awardees). These outstanding caregivers were nominated by child welfare professionals for going above and beyond in their service to children and families.

These awardees demonstrate exceptional dedication and compassion, inspiring others through their commitment to the foster, adoptive and kinship community. Among this year’s honorees, two families share how their commitment to children and families has shaped their lives and strengthened their communities.

Jessica Hileman - Adoptive Family Excellence Award

Two days after receiving her foster care license, Jessica Hileman got a placement call.

For her, the journey to foster care had been years in the making. Raised in a large family and working as a teacher, she felt comfortable in the beautiful chaos of caring for children. She initially questioned whether pursuing foster care as a single mother was possible for her. Over time, she felt a growing sense of purpose.

The path wasn't always straightforward. Life changes, the COVID-19 pandemic and the licensing process stretched the timeline longer than expected. Looking back, Jessica sees meaning in every delay. Her first foster care placement was expected to last two weeks as an emergency arrangement, while a longer-term plan was put in place for the child. Jessica agreed, believing she could provide stability for a short time. What she didn't know was that those two weeks would turn into a life-changing experience.

When Koda arrived at her home, he brought with him the effects of significant trauma and complex needs. Jessica had years of experience supporting students facing emotional challenges, but foster care taught her that trauma requires a different kind of understanding. "I thought if I poured into this kid, it would be enough for healing. I was so unaware how trauma impacts mental health, medical needs and behaviors. It's a different ball game."

Rather than stepping back when challenges arose, Jessica leaned in. Koda thrived under Jessica’s care and the original two-week placement turned into full-time care. Jessica provided for Koda and learned how to support his complex needs. She pursued training, read books, listened to podcasts, attended therapy sessions, connected with professionals, and learned how to advocate for him. She discovered that healing is rarely linear and creating a sense of safety often means continuosly rebuilding trust. In December 2025, Jessica and Koda celebrated a new milestone together—adoption.

Jessica credits the support of child welfare professionals, licensing workers, therapists, and caseworkers who helped guide her through unfamiliar territory. They connected her with resources and helped her understand how to respond to Koda's unique needs. Today, one of her proudest accomplishments is learning how to ask for help and how to ensure others understand what children impacted by trauma need to succeed. "People don't always realize the resources that are available. Advocating means making sure everyone is on the same page."

For those considering fostering and adoption, Jessica’s message is simple: learn all you can, build connections, ask for help and care for yourself along the way.

Jen and Denny Dera - Foster Family Excellence Award

In the Dera home, there is rarely a quiet moment. With three biological children, four adopted children and up to six youth in foster care, days are full of activity. Yet, one thing remains steady in the Dera household: every person who enters their home is welcomed with compassion, consistency and care to help them feel see and valued.

The Dera’s never intended to build the life they have today. Their journey into foster care began with heartbreak. After losing a 14-year-old they cared deeply about to suicide, they found themselves searching for a way to make sense of the loss. They began fostering through a private agency, eventually adopting the first child placed with them and later partnering with MDHHS in Macomb County. Over time, what started as caring for one child grew into a commitment to supporting some of Michigan’s most vulnerable youth—teenagers; a population often overlooked within the foster care system.

Today, their home serves as a transition placement home, offering stability to youth moving between placements or levels of care. While some placements last only days and others stretch into months, their philosophy remains the same: invest in full, regardless of how long a young person is there. Frequent moves, disrupted relationships and broken trust can make it difficult to believe that adults will stay. Rather than rushing connection, the Deras focus on consistency. “We don’t push for connection on a timeline. We just show up consistently with the same meals, same check-ins and same follow-through.”

That commitment extends beyond providing shelter as birthdays are celebrated, walls are personalized and family dinners are shared. Youth have a voice in the home and are encouraged to discover who they are beyond the experiences documented in their case files. “We try to remember that a file is a record of hard things that happened to a kid. It is not the kid.”

The work does not come without challenges. Saying goodbye can be difficult, especially after trust has been built. But the rewards often come later, in a message announcing a new job, a school acceptance or a positive update from a young adult who is now thriving. These moments are proof that even temporary stability can change a life. By opening their hearts and home to youth in transition, the Dera family