Putting the emotional, social, physical and cognitive welfare of children ahead of all else, Michigan Department of Human Services has announced a new foster care placement policy.
According to an article released by the AP, Child Welfare Workers are asked to consider the degree that children and infants are attached to their parents or caregivers when being removed and placed into foster care. Because of the trauma associated with removal, they are also asked to consider first placing these children into potentially adoptive foster homes if the parents are not expected to be reunited with their children.
Recent history has shown that infants younger than 3 months of age when placed in foster care are more likely to be adopted than reunited with birth parents. Human Services Director, Maura Corrigan stated, “We need to use the scientific knowledge about early childhood development to make meaningful decisions about placement, visitation, services and permanent homes for babies.”
Providing babies with familiar objects from their homes, and providing services by Infant Mental Health Specialists when needed are also recommended in Michigan’s new policy.
Mental Health Specialists when needed are also recommended in Michigan’s new policy.
