Jackson County nonprofit details trauma‑focused foster care, school mental health and underfunded guardianship services

Dr. Bob Powell, CEO of Family Service and Children’s Aid, told the Michigan House Families and Veterans Committee that trauma underlies the agency’s work serving children, families and vulnerable adults and urged lawmakers to increase foster‑care rates and guardianship payment levels.

Powell spoke about the agency’s foster‑care caseload, behavioral‑health services, juvenile diversion and a guardian program for vulnerable adults, and highlighted gaps in funding and oversight that he said leave counties and families without consistent access to services.

Powell said Family Service and Children’s Aid, a private nonprofit based in Jackson County, provides services on a sliding scale and “we don’t turn anybody away for any reason, as long as they’re eligible for whatever services we offer.” He described funding as a “piecemeal” mix of DHHS contracts, grants, United Way and donations.

The agency reported 185 youth in foster care in Jackson County and, Powell said, received “347 protective services referrals” last month, of which “164” were investigated. He described recent foster‑care admissions including four children under age 4 removed for severe neglect and…