Michigan Department of Human Services, Partners: You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Be a Perfect Parent

Contact: Edward Woods III, Office of Communications director, 517-373-7394

Michigan Department of Human Services, Partners:

You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Be a Perfect Parent

April 28, 2010

The Michigan Department of Human Services will run radio public service announcements and newspaper ads statewide starting in May to recruit foster and adoptive parents, Director Ismael Ahmed said today.

"Some say we're asking foster parents to take on a big burden," Ahmed said at a Grand Rapids event today. "I say it's an opportunity. Yes, we're asking people to take on a huge responsibility, but as a father of five I can tell you that you get a thousand times in love what you invest."

DHS and its partners, including Bethany Christian Services and the Michigan Federation for Children and Families, are recruiting foster and adoptive parents for the 16,000 children in Michigan's foster care system. Of those children in foster care, almost 4,000 are available for adoption because they are state or court wards after their parents' rights were terminated by a court due to abuse or neglect.

The spots and ads are part of an Ad Council campaign - You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent - developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Adopt Us Kids, which works to raise awareness about the need for foster and adoptive families, and supports states in their own efforts. They've allowed Michigan to use their messages and materials, and to route interested parents who contact them to the appropriate state contacts. For more information, visit www.adoptuskids.org or call toll-free 888-200-4005. For Spanish, visit www.adopte1.org or call toll-free 877-236-7831.

The public service announcements use humor and everyday life situations to demonstrate that adopting a child from foster care isn't about "being perfect," but rather about the commitment demonstrated by normal interactions between any parent and a child in a loving parent/child relationship. They are running in May because it's National Foster Care Month.

"This is a time to recognize the generous families who step up to become foster parents, and also a time to raise awareness of the need for more dedicated families who will foster, mentor or adopt a vulnerable child in need of a family," said Brian DeVos, director of operations for Michigan at Bethany Christian Services. "Our community is committed to meeting the needs of these children and their families."

Tammy Schnyders, who lives in Grand Rapids with her 11 children, applauded the campaign effort.

"These kids really need a home," said Schnyders, who has adopted nine children. "They need a chance to succeed and to live with people who love them and are committed to them no matter how hard it gets."

Already, the DHS and its partners have made significant progress in reforming the state's child welfare system, including reuniting children with their families, finding permanent homes when that's not possible, and providing additional support services, DHS Children's Services Administration Director Kathryne O'Grady added.

Accomplishments include:

• Moved more than 50 percent of the children in foster care for a year or longer back home or to another permanent living arrangement.
• Increased the number of children adopted from foster care for four straight years.
• Created specialized units in all urban counties to investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect of children in foster care.

"Because of our partnership, Michigan has made significant strides toward lowering worker caseloads; expanding and enhancing services to children and families; and moving children to permanent homes," O'Grady said. "We want the children who come to us to exit the foster care system better off than when they entered."

For more information on DHS, please visit www.michigan.gov/perfectparent.