Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on February 6, 2007, to create a new state program that gives cash subsidies to relatives with low incomes who are appointed by a court to act as a legal guardian for a difficult-to-place child

The vote was 36 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 448 at Senate Journal 65)

Click here to view bill details.

I agree with the bill... I currently am guradian of a child that is not related to me. I am engaged to her brother. She is 16 yrs of age and I have had her for 3 years. I don't receive any child support from either one of her parents (homeless) and I am not entiled to any assististance cause I am not her biologial mother nor am I a relative. The courts would of put her in foster care if I had not jumped in and obtained guardianship. I do not make a whole lot of money and my monthly rent is 63% of my monthly income. College is coming and I know I will never be able to afford that.

Just a thought: what if this measure simply creates a bigger problem? What are the reasons children are not with parents?

We are grandparents raising two grandson we thought we would have some time in our golden years to enjoy life not be responsible for two boys, and have too care for them but here we are in our 60s and they are 7 and 9 they are the love of my life but not what I intented for this time of like

These bills need to be passed, If Social System can dish out money to Foster Care Provider with 6 kids, attention should be Welfare of Child. Then If a loving Safer as Relative Hero's kept children from entering overcrowded system, Then these Heros Relatives or Grandparents need atleast FOOD STAMPS.Reality is Money for Foster People or give money to Relatives same effects helps a child AH wonder Why senators want to prolong foster care for children,when they know a child would rather be with relatives, then with strangers. SENATORS IF GOING TO CHANGE SOCIAL EFFORTS,AND HELP CHILDREN IN NEED,GIVE FOOD STAMPS TO HERO'S.

These bills need to be passed, If Social System can dish out money to Foster Care Provider with 6 kids, attention should be Welfare of Child. Then If a loving Safer as Relative Hero's kept children from entering overcrowded system, Then these Heros Relatives or Grandparents need atleast FOOD STAMPS.Reality is Money for Foster People or give money to Relatives same effects helps a child AH wonder Why senators want to prolong foster care for children,when they know a child would rather be with relatives, then with strangers. SENATORS IF GOING TO CHANGE SOCIAL EFFORTS,AND HELP CHILDREN IN NEED,GIVE FOOD STAMPS TO HERO'S.

Payment should be: All of the payment that would have been made in foster care. OR All of the payment that the state receives for the care of a child from non-custodial parents. LESS a $5.00 per month processing fee. Why should the state line its pockets? Why should the state treat children in foster care as "better" kids who deserve more money? Money for the care of a child should go to that child or his/her caregiver!

They really don't care about the child. It takes alot of money to raise a child. Some parents should know that going in. The state should pay whenever a child is in anyone's care, no matter if it's a relative or not. Why should foster care get more money, it should be the same no matter whos taking care of the child. Shouldn't it be about the care of the child.

DEFICIENCY ONE: There is neither definition nor the process of being considered as an "eligible guardian". This has been the most challenging issue for those of affinity and those who are classified within the "fifth degree of consanguinity" to the child. I shall define "the most challenging issue" to be the non-uniform standards child placing agency workers apply when assessing the option of relative care. Ambiguity in the process of relative care placement has left these agency workers with no choice but to rely upon the same parental litmus test that was used to remove the child in the first place. Will the bar be raised in allowing a guardian to become eligible to care for the family child by applying the same standards of background check as would foster parents? DEFICIENCY TWO: As the state assumes patria potestas, the assignment of child support begs the question: if the child was removed due to "not providing for the necessary need of the child" (i.e. poverty, homelessness) then why would conditions be constructed to create even greater barriers for reunification? Even though it is well understood that this is an efficient and cost effective method in working towards the goal of "keeping families together", perhaps there could be more. Further discussions for the possible outcomes of this type transfer (Friend of the Court roles to Department of Human Services) are warranted. LANDMARK: The state has redefined the term family to the "fifth degree." I believe this to be of national precedence. Beverly Tran

We need a constitutional amendment that defines child/parental relationship, rights and responsibilities. Social workers are destroying decent families who may need no more than a little help paying a bill or funding daycare. Family preservation should be of the utmost concern to all. http://www.parentalrights.org/learn/the-solution-a-constitutional-amendment

This Law does need to pass,best interest of child. Ha,heres a question for thought to all legislators Have defined relatives caregivers,then you all turned down,GRANDPARENTS RIGHTS TO HAVE visitation bottomLine,YES revise AdoptionCODEs for GRandchild Common sense,look between the lines,do whats right Of course it would be in best interest of children Think,by adding to a relative or grandparent adoption laws to include,1st.degree.grandparents only visitation RIGHTS. WOULD THIS GIVE MORE AIDE HELP TO CHILDREN IN NEED and ALSO HELP IN OVERCROWDED SYSTEM ??

Is the Michigan Children's Institute as the pecuniary guardian? It would be nice to know.

This bill needs to pass. Not only the grandparental visition to be included in the Adoption law for visitation. But new legislature for Grandparental Adoption laws in the first degree. In our scenerio the DHS caseworkers, prosecuting attorney and Judge clearly acknowledged us as grandparents and there was DNA to prove the biological connection. However, they have chose to ignore us. It took two and a-half years to obtain an adoption package, then we were approved to adopt any child we would like except for the one we requested, disregarding the fact of the biological connection to our grandson.