Calhoun County has become a place of refuge for children from all across Michigan, thanks in part to CityLinC’s Youth Guidance Foster Care program. We believe that children have a right to a stable, permanent home. Ideally, children should be raised by their biological parents in a nurturing environment.

When parents are unable to meet these responsibilities, we help families get the additional resources they need. In some cases, this means placing the children in a loving foster care environment to provide necessary continuity, consistency and stability. In other cases, adoption may offer the best possible way to provide a secure future for high-risk children.

CityLinC's Youth Guidance Foster Care & Adoption program is licensed by the state. We work with dozens of local families and hundreds of children from all over Michigan: All ages. All backgrounds. All shapes and sizes. For a more in-depth look at our program, please click here now (MS Word document).

Every Child Deserves to Be Loved

Thousands of wonderful Michigan kids are in need of a safe, loving home this year. You could be the answer to their dreams. And it’s easier than you may think!

Here at Youth Guidance Foster Care and Adoption Center, we’ve helped hundreds of families experience the joy that comes with caring for a child in need. We offer free assessments, free training and free ongoing support to all of our foster families. The State of Michigan provides a monthly cash stipend for each foster child, as well as funds for clothing and incidentals.

We know that each child is unique. That’s why Youth Guidance provides additional training for every family regarding the specific needs of each child. As a non-profit organization, we’re always focused on doing the right thing for kids.

Foster children come from all racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds. We encourage a diversity of adults to become involved in this very important role. Foster and adoptive parents are not required to own their own home, be married or give up their jobs. What’s most important is the family’s ability to provide a stable and loving home environment.

Adults who are exploring the possibility of becoming foster or adoptive parents are invited to meet with our staff to discuss their interests. We work closely with all applicants to help them identify their strengths and evaluate their qualifications.

To learn more about any our foster care program, or to apply to become a foster parent, please call our office at (269) 969-9438. You may also enjoy reading the special article on page six of our fall 2009 newsletter (click here for newsletter).

Our Adoption Services

We also assist families seeking to adopt a child within the United States, ages 0-18. Most of our adoption cases involve children from southern Michigan, but we welcome inquiries from outside the area. (We do not handle international adoptions.)

Our trained adoption counselors help connect qualified couples with available children in accordance with all state and federal laws. We offer pre-adoption counseling and home evaluations, as well as assistance throughout the actual adoption process. We can also recommend attorneys who are familiar with the legal aspects of adoption in Michigan.

We strongly encourage married couples to consider adopting children who are currently in the Michigan foster care system. They range in age from newborn to 18 years old. Currently, more than 300 Michigan children are awaiting a permanent family placement, not including the 3,800 children in the foster care system with other arrangements.

To learn more about the children awaiting adoption, including photos and personal profiles of each child, please visit the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange at www.mare.org. Or call the CityLinC office at (269) 969-9438. Thank you!

Adoption Resources

If you are interesting in adopting a child, or would like more information about adoption, we encourage you to visit the online resources below:

Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange
Michigan DHS Adoption Information
Adoption Facts for Michigan

For additional assistance, please call our office at (269) 969-9438.