Foster Parenting

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide a safe, secure, structured environment for male and female youth within a family setting, that will nurture them and enable them to reach their highest potential.

Foster Care Program--A Brief Explanation

Berrien County Trial Court-Family Division is licensed as a child-placing agency and places juvenile delinquent court wards into licensed Foster Care Homes; these youth ranges in age from 12 to 17 years-old. Some youth are in need of short-term placement ranging from 6 months to 1 year, and other youth will need long-term placement (more than one year).

• Berrien County Trial Court has implemented a comprehensive assessment process to better allow our Foster Parents to "know" the youth prior to being placed into their home.
• Foster Parents are allowed an opportunity to interview the youth prior to the youth being placed in their home.
• Berrien County Trial Court does not place any youth into foster care in the middle of the night.
• Every foster youth will meet with a court foster care specialist at least twice a month.
• All foster youth attend counseling.
• All the foster youths' medical expenses are covered by Medicaid.
• Foster parents will be given a purchase order to purchase clothes for the youth.
• Foster parents are also reimbursed for the care and custody that they provide foster youth.