Michigan House approves ‘Foster Children’s Bill of Rights'

Legislation introduced by state Rep. Jim Runestad as part of a bipartisan package offering Michigan foster children some much-needed stability was overwhelmingly approved today by the Michigan House of Representatives.

The legislation creates the Children’s Assurance of Quality Foster Care Policy, which spells out the rights all foster children should expect to receive in Michigan.

“As a licensed foster parent and a foster child advocate I came to know and understand the vulnerability of children in the foster care system, and I started looking for ways to reduce their trauma and improve the system,” said Runestad, R-White Lake. “One of the primary ways to reduce trauma is to give people more information and control over their lives. This legislation does that by giving children information about their rights within the system, how to work with the courts, how to contact their foster care review board and how to access their records.”

The legislation, which Runestad sponsored alongside Rep. Terry Sabo (D-Muskegon) and Rep. Pamela Hornberger (R-Chesterfield Township), includes the following assurances for foster children:

· Placement with relatives and siblings, when appropriate.

· Ongoing contact and visits with parents, relatives and friends, if permitted by the court.

· Timely enrollment in school with consistent placement in the same school, when possible.

· Access to religious and cultural activities.

· Regular contact with their caseworkers, attorneys and advocates.

· Involvement in their own case plan development, including plans for their future and aging out of the foster care system.

· Protection of privacy and confidentiality regarding their case.

Additionally, the legislation requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to provide foster children with a booklet filled with information on the policies and how to report violations.

“These are very reasonable practices that offer some badly-needed stability to the nearly 13,000 children in our state foster care system,” Runestad said. “I’m confident this will give foster kids the knowledge they need to be their own best advocates.”

House Bills 5121-23 now move to the Senate for consideration.