Samaritas is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in Michigan, with about 2000 staffers across 60 sites statewide. The organization cares for seniors, the underprivileged, foster families, and more.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and with that in mind, we look at the different ways Samaritas has had to adapt their foster efforts since the COVID-19 hit Michigan.

They've ramped up efforts to provide tablets and other technology to birth parents, so that they can stay in touch with their kids in foster care.  In person visits have to wait, but maintaining a connection to their birth parents is especially important to kids of any age.

Before the shutdown, Samaritas was serving 1,000 kids in the state. They estimate, however, that number to be only a third of those in need.  And  those numbers are likely to skyrocket after the "shelter in place" order is lifted.  There are no guardrails currently - nobody outside the home for kids to reach out to.

To prepare for the influx of foster and Child Protective Services cases, Samaritas is simultaneously reaching out to existing foster parents and recruiting new ones.  The training for new ones has moved online.

Additionally, with the increase in alcohol sales, substance abuse has become an even bigger concern. Kelli Dobner, the Chief Advancement Officer, explained how Samaritas is expanding efforts in this area.

Samaritas says "It takes a purple village" to surround these kids, both during Foster Care Awareness month and always.

Resources:

Samaritas Website: https://www.samaritas.org/

Samaritas Foster Care Resource Page: https://www.samaritas.org/fostercare

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