Pathways, MI contracts with the Department of Human Services to provide foster care services to children from Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Ottawa counties.
Pathways, MI licenses foster family homes and is responsible for the children's placement, care and supervision through both general and specialized foster care services.
The primary responsibility of the Pathways, MI Foster Care Program will always be to put families first.
Pathways, MI recognizes and supports the importance of maintaining family relationships. While the children placed in care through our agency have been removed from the custody of their parents/caregivers, we understand that it is important for children to maintain as much of a sense of continuity with members of their family as is possible. Based on this philosophy all members of the Foster Care Team will strive to facilitate family reunification in so far as those efforts are appropriate and do not run contrary to the welfare of the child.
Pathways, MI will support children’s contact with their family in a number of ways. Family placement options will be explored both within the first 30 days of placement and on an ongoing basis. If there are no family placement options, Pathways, MI personnel will strive to maintain an appropriate level of contact between children and their biological families. For example, the importance of sibling relationships is recognized and the program staff will endeavor to facilitate regularly scheduled sibling visitation, even when siblings may be placed through other community providers. When sibling visitation is not an option, the possibility of phone contacts, photograph exchanges, and correspondence will be explored. The children’s wishes and best interests will always be considered when making decisions concerning visitation and family relationships.
In addition to appreciating the importance of sibling contacts, Pathways, MI realizes that children may be bonded to a caregiver that does not have an established legal relationship, for example, a biological father whose paternity has not been established or recognized, a parent whose rights have already been terminated, or a step-parent who has raised his step-children for much of their lives. As much as is possible, Pathways, MI personnel will facilitate reasonable visitation between these parental figures and children placed in care through our agency, again, with respect to the children’s best interest and wishes.
Finally, if children in care are particularly bonded to some other extended family member or fictive kin, such as a godparent or aunt, visitation will be facilitated to maintain that relationship. Such visitation does not need to occur with the frequency of parental or sibling visitation but should be available periodically to prevent the children from experiencing unnecessary losses while in care. This may mean that the person in question participates in visitation with the caregiver once a month or that visitation is arranged around special occasions such as holidays or birthdays. In cases where a child does not visit with a parent, caregiver, or siblings for reasons other than convenience it is particularly important for Pathways, MI personnel to endeavor to connect children with some member of their family, even if only through correspondence.
Children/families with special needs will be accommodated as required. Services for translations, language and hearing impaired will be accessed through referrals to community resources. Physical challenges will be provided handicap accessible sites for visitation and community resources as appropriate. Every effort will be made to provide the same quality services to families and children with special needs.
All aspects of service delivery incorporate the informed participation of all parties. Service planning in completed with the involvement of all identified members of the child’s family and support system. Goal planning will be made in coordination with the family, foster family, support system as identified by the family system, and reviewed on a consistent basis within required time frames.
Every effort will be made to provide placement of the child(ren) in close proximity to their home of origin. When this is not possible, Pathways, MI will assist family members in accessing services and visitation through community resources and Pathways, MI resources. Pathways, MI believes that it is important to deliver service
within the community of the family whenever possible.
