About Us
The Michigan Kinship Care Council was formed in 2021 as a result of Governor Whitmer's decision to raise awareness of needs, gaps and challenges of kinship families as well as to better coordinate resources and advocate for those families.
Our mission
The Michigan Kinship Care Coalition is an inclusive network of voices collaborating to strengthen and increase support for kinship families through advocacy, increased education, and raised awareness to equip all families to thrive.
Our Vision
Our vision is to bring together diverse allies to ensure all kinship families have access to the support they need to provide a vibrant future for the children in their care.
Our Values
The Coalition’s work is driven by:
• Inclusion of the voices and leadership of kinship families;
• Collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders from across the state;
• Maximizing partnerships to achieve high-quality, coordinated systems of support; and,
• Commitment to advocating for improved outcomes
Steering Committee
Lisa Grodsky
Lara Bouse
Debbie Frisbee
Anita Rothert
Lindsay Huddleston III
David Berns
Crystal White
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at info@mi-kinship.org if you cannot find an answer to your question or if you just need to talk to a real person.
The Michigan Kinship Care Coalition (MKCC) is an inclusive network of voices collaborating to strengthen and increase support for kinship families through advocacy, increased education, and raised awareness to equip all families to thrive.
MKCC was started by Governor Whitmer to help coordinate the myriad of services in Michigan. MKCC has three arms: Education, Advocacy & Awareness. Various committees work on each of these areas and report out each year.
Policy and Advocacy: We exist to be a catalyst for change. We will work to broaden the thinking of policy makers, agencies, and communities to create better systems of support and outcomes for relative caregivers of children inside or outside the child welfare system.
Public Awareness and Education: The Public Awareness and Education Committee will work to increase knowledge of kinship care and kinship families’ experiences to the general public, media, stakeholders and policymakers for the purpose of expanding support and services to kinship families.
We will do this by:
● Outreach and engagement with communities, including kinship families, across the state;
● Developing educational materials; and,
● Creating awareness of available services and service gaps.
Information Sharing: Purpose of the Committee: Gather and share current information on happenings in the Kinship Care world, serving as a conduit for supporting other Coalition committees to coordinate and fulfill their purpose.
Caregiver and Service Provider Training: The purpose of this committee is to team-up with other Kinship Care Organizations and Service Providers by:
● Setting up a survey to assess the needs of individual families
● Tailor training services to their needs
● Collaborate with their local communities to locate specific trainings in their area such as: Legal assistance, Financial assistance, Mental Health Services, etc.
● Create and hold Kinship Care trainings quarterly at a central location
● Create and post trainings available throughout the state on Facebook page, and other organizational
newsletters
Mobilizing the Field: The purpose of the Committee is to support kinship leaders to:
● Connect their local groups with agencies and resources;
● Establish new support groups in communities where one does not exist; and,
● Create a network of support groups to share information and collaborate with one another
Check out the RESOURCES tab on our website. We have many resources and we provide links to other partners across Michigan who have resources. If you still can't find what you're looking for, let us know by submitting the CONTACT US form and someone will get back to you within 24 hours.
Yes and No. Here are some excellent places to visit. If they do not meet your unique needs you can reach out to us for more 1:1 help.
Support Michigan Kinship Care Coalition
Your generous donation goes towards the cost of our advocacy, education and awareness events and campaigns and brings us closer to our goals. Join us in making a lasting impact. Together, we can improve outcomes for all families.
