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Foster Care

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families...Psalm 68:5-6 (NIV)

Did you know?

  • Michigan is one of five states serving almost half the national foster care population. In the years 1983 to 1993, the number of children in foster care in Michigan increased 67%.
  • A 4 year follow up study of youth who had aged out of foster care revealed: Only half had completed high school, just less than half were currently employed, only about 40% had held a job for at least a year, 60% of females had given birth, one quarter had been homeless for at least one night, and fewer than 1 in 5 were completely self supporting.
  • Domestic special needs adoptions (i.e. from the U.S. Foster Care System) carry virtually no expense. Many times subsidies are available for foster parents/adoptive parents of waiting children in this category.  Adoption subsidy information for Michigan can be found here.
  • The federal adoption tax credit increased to $12,150 per child in 2009 for qualifying adoption expenses.  Beginning with the 2003 tax year, many domestic special needs adoptions qualify for the tax credit even when there are not qualifying expenses. Contact the IRS for more information.

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Foster Care Agencies in the Grand Rapids, MI Area

901 Eastern Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0294
(616) 224-7550

Catholic Charities West Michigan
40 Jefferson SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4304
(616)356-6265

805 Leonard, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 774-4615
Email:
adoption@dablodgett.org

Lutheran Social Services of Michigan
207 E. Fulton St.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 356-1934

Wedgwood Christian Services
3300 - 36th Street S.E.
Kentwood  MI  49512
(616) 942-2110

Foster Care-Related Information and Links

Check out the rest of our Adoption Information, as much of it applies to adoption from foster care.