10/20/2026
Today’s headlines say thousands of Michigan foster children are “without oversight.” We want to share what that means, and what it doesn’t.
A new report from the Michigan Auditor General found that the Michigan Children’s Institute, the state office that serves as legal guardian for children whose parental rights have been terminated, did not have monitoring records for more than half of those children. That is a serious finding, and it deserves attention.
But “no state records” is not the same as “no one is watching.” Every child in foster care has an assigned foster care worker who is required to see them in their home at least once a month.
Those workers check on safety, school, health, and family connections. They write the court reports. They sit in the living rooms. That direct oversight has always happened at the agency level, and at Guiding Harbor, it happens every single day.
Where the state’s records fall short, the kids who feel it most are the ones waiting on adoption. When the legal guardian’s paperwork is incomplete, it slows down the consents and approvals that move a child toward a permanent home. We see that from the inside, and we support anything that strengthens accountability at the top.
Our CEO, Jennifer Trotter, spoke with CBS Detroit’s Jack Springgate today to add that context. Full story below.
Michigan is losing foster homes every year. If this story moved you, the most powerful response is to learn what it takes to become a foster family. We’d love to talk with you.
An audit of Michigan's foster care system revealed that more than half of children in its care didn't receive monitoring by the state to make sure their needs were being met. However, those who work alongside the state say this audit doesn't tell the full story.
