Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Michigan: Kinship Care, TANF, and Support

Last updated: 7 April 2026

Bottom line: Michigan does not have one broad cash grant just for grandparents raising grandchildren. In real life, most Michigan families start with a child-only Family Independence Program (FIP) grant, food and health coverage through MI Bridges, and help from the statewide Kinship Care Resource Center at Michigan State University. If the child is already in foster care, ask about relative foster care licensing and the Guardianship Assistance Program before you rush into probate court, because that choice can affect what money and support you can get.

Emergency help now

• If the child is unsafe, abandoned, or you suspect abuse or neglect, call Michigan’s reporting line right now at 1-855-444-3911.
• If MDHHS or Children’s Protective Services is already involved, tell the worker today that you want to be considered as a relative placement and ask about foster care payments, licensing, and guardianship assistance before filing your own court case.
• If you need money, food, or medical coverage now, file a same-day application through MI Bridges or call your local MDHHS office and ask for a paper application.

Quick help

• Fastest statewide help: Call the Kinship Care Resource Center at 1-800-535-1218 for free kinship-navigation help.
• Fastest cash path: Ask MDHHS to screen the child for a child-only FIP grant, also called an Ineligible Grantee Award.
• Fastest online portal: Use MI Bridges for cash, food assistance, Medicaid, State Emergency Relief, and child care.
• Fastest legal stopgap: If a parent will cooperate, use a Delegation of Parental Authority for short-term school and medical decisions.
• Fastest school fix: Call the school district enrollment office and ask what paperwork it needs; if housing is unstable, ask for the district’s McKinney-Vento liaison.

Quick facts

• Best immediate takeaway: A grandparent can often get a child-only FIP grant even when the grandparent’s own income is too high for full-family cash assistance.
• Major rule: In Michigan, probate guardianship and foster care are not the same path, and only the foster-care path can lead to foster care payments and later guardianship assistance.
• Realistic obstacle: Schools, doctors, and benefit workers may all ask for different papers, and county or district practices can vary.
• Useful fact: Michigan has a statewide Kinship Care Resource Center with free phone help at 1-800-535-1218.
• Best next step: File a MI Bridges application and call KCRC in the same week.

What this help actually looks like in Michigan

Start by figuring out which legal lane you are in. In Michigan, that usually matters more than anything else. If the child came to you informally, your first-line options are usually child-only FIP, food assistance, health coverage, school help, and some kind of legal authority for daily decisions. If the child is a court or state ward, you may be able to get foster care payments, respite, Medicaid, and later guardianship assistance through the foster care system.

Michigan-specific reality: there is no separate statewide “grandparents raising grandchildren” cash program that works for every case. The real money routes are the child-only FIP grant, relative foster care payments when the child is in foster care, and the Guardianship Assistance Program only when a child exits foster care to juvenile guardianship. That is why many Michigan kinship caregivers regret filing for probate guardianship too quickly without first asking whether a foster-care route exists.

Michigan path	Who can usually make school and medical decisions?	Main money path	Best when	Main catch
Informal care with a parent’s Delegation of Parental Authority	The caregiver, but only within the powers the parent signed over	Usually child-only FIP, food help, and health coverage	The parent is reachable and this is short-term	A non-military delegation usually lasts only 180 days, and if only one parent signs, major school changes and non-routine medical decisions are limited
Probate guardianship under Michigan’s Estates and Protected Individuals Code	The guardian, once the court issues authority	May still qualify for child-only FIP	The child is not in foster care and the placement looks long-term	Usually does not create foster care payments or GAP
Relative foster care placement	The foster care system and caregiver under placement rules	Foster care rate, possible Determination of Care supplement, clothing and holiday allowances, Medicaid	MDHHS or the court is already involved	Licensing, worker visits, and case planning are part of the deal
Juvenile guardianship after foster care	The juvenile guardian	Guardianship Assistance Program, possible Medicaid, and some nonrecurring costs	Reunification and adoption have been ruled out after foster care	The agreement must be signed before the court appoints the guardian

Best first steps after a grandparent takes in a child

• Ask whether the child is already in the MDHHS child welfare system. If yes, ask about relative placement, foster licensing, and whether the child could later qualify for juvenile guardianship assistance.
• Call KCRC at 1-800-535-1218. This is the fastest statewide Michigan-specific help line for kinship families.
• Open a MI Bridges account. Apply for cash assistance, food assistance, Medicaid, and emergency help in one place.
• Get legal authority lined up. Use a Delegation of Parental Authority if the parent will cooperate and the arrangement is short-term. If not, ask about probate guardianship or foster-care placement rules.
• Contact the school early. Ask what it needs for enrollment, and ask for the McKinney-Vento liaison if the child is doubled-up because of hardship or homelessness.
• Call the child’s doctor or clinic before the first appointment. Ask what proof they need for routine care, prescriptions, and immunization records.

Who qualifies in plain language

You may qualify for at least some help in Michigan if you live in Michigan and a grandchild, niece, nephew, sibling, or other related child is now living with you full-time or most of the time. You do not have to adopt the child first to ask about help. But the exact programs change a lot depending on whether the care is informal, under probate guardianship, or through foster care.

Simple rule: informal kinship care can still open the door to child-only FIP, food help, Medicaid or other child coverage, school support, and legal tools. Foster care payments and the Michigan Guardianship Assistance Program are much narrower and usually require a foster-care case first.

Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren in Michigan

Child-only Family Independence Program for grandparents raising grandchildren

• What it is: Michigan’s child-only cash assistance route under the Family Independence Program, which is Michigan’s main Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash program.
• Who can get it or use it: Relative caregivers raising a child may be eligible for an Ineligible Grantee Award, also called a child-only grant. Michigan’s guardianship assistance page says this may be available for the child regardless of household income.
• How it helps: It can provide monthly cash for the child without forcing a grandparent into a full-family grant when that is not the best fit.
• How to apply or use it: Apply through MI Bridges, ask for a paper MDHHS-1171 assistance application, or apply at your local MDHHS office.
• What to gather or know first: Bring your photo ID, any birth certificate or Social Security number you have for the child, proof the child lives with you, and any court, foster care, or school papers that show the child is in your home.

The latest public FIP payment-standard notice we found raised monthly FIP standards effective 1 December 2024. For child-only cases, Michigan uses the Ineligible Grantee amount in the table below.

Number of children on the child-only case	Child-only monthly amount	Full-family FIP amount
1	$187	$363
2	$325	$478
3	$498	$583
4	$660	$707
5	$822	$822
6	$981	$981
7	$1,072	$1,072
8 or more	Add $95 for each additional person	Add $95 for each additional person

Full-family FIP and State Disability Assistance when the grandparent also needs help

• What it is: A household-based cash route if the grandparent wants the whole household screened, plus State Disability Assistance for some older or disabled adults.
• Who can get it or use it: Low-income families with minor children can ask about full-family FIP. MDHHS also says adults age 65 or older may be eligible for State Disability Assistance.
• How it helps: This can be worth checking if the household is very low-income and the grandparent also needs direct cash help.
• How to apply or use it: Use the same MI Bridges application and ask the worker to compare child-only and full-family options.
• What to gather or know first: Full-family cases have more household income and asset questions. Adult FIP also carries PATH work-program rules for applicants who are part of the cash case.

Important Michigan update: MDHHS says the maximum number of months an adult can receive FIP increased from 48 to 60 months effective 1 April 2025. That matters when a grandparent is applying for full-family cash rather than a child-only grant.

Kinship care payments and relative foster care in Michigan

• What it is: Foster care payments for a relative caregiver when the child is in the foster-care system, plus support tied to foster care licensing.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents and other relatives caring for a child who is a court or state ward. Michigan’s payment page says a child’s relative’s home may receive foster care payments if the home is licensed or if parental rights have been terminated.
• How it helps: Foster care payments are much higher than child-only FIP. They can also come with Medicaid for the child, clothing and holiday allowances, possible Determination of Care supplements, and access to respite and support programs.
• How to apply or use it: Tell the foster care worker or CPS worker that you want to be considered as a relative foster care placement. You can also call the Foster Care Navigator Program at 1-855-642-4543 for guidance.
• What to gather or know first: Licensing can involve training, fingerprinting, medical statements, home review, and paperwork on everyone in the household.

Current Michigan rate table: the state’s foster care rate manual, effective 1 October 2024, lists a daily rate of $22.35 for ages 0 to 12 and $26.69 for ages 13 to 18, plus possible Determination of Care supplements and separate clothing and holiday allowances. As of January 2026, the federal Administration for Children and Families listed Michigan among the states with approved separate licensing or approval standards for kinship foster homes, which can reduce barriers for relatives. But that change does not turn informal caregiving into foster care by itself.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers through Michigan’s Juvenile Guardianship Assistance Program

• What it is: Ongoing financial and medical help when a child leaves foster care to a permanent juvenile guardianship.
• Who can get it or use it: The child must be in foster care, reunification and adoption must be ruled out, the guardian must be a licensed foster parent, and the child must live in the guardian’s licensed home for at least six months before guardianship assistance is requested. If the child is 14 or older, the child must be consulted and agree.
• How it helps: The payment rate is based on the foster care rate the child was already receiving. Eligible children may also keep Medicaid, and the program can reimburse up to $2,000 per child in nonrecurring guardianship expenses.
• How to apply or use it: The foster care worker files the DHS-3310 application. The DHS-3313 guardianship assistance agreement must be signed before the court appoints the guardian.
• What to gather or know first: If a guardianship is already entered without an assistance agreement in place, GAP is usually off the table.

Very practical Michigan detail: the Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Office says to allow at least four to six weeks from a complete case-opening request to the first guardianship payment, and the guardian must be registered in SIGMA to receive payment. For youth who entered guardianship on or after age 16, assistance can sometimes continue to age 21, and older youth may have access to Youth in Transition and Education and Training Voucher help.

Probate guardianship, legal custody, and Delegation of Parental Authority

• What it is: Michigan’s main non-foster-care legal tools for a grandparent who needs authority to care for a child.
• Who can get it or use it: A Delegation of Parental Authority works when a parent can still cooperate. Probate guardianship is more common when the child is staying longer-term and the parent is absent, unsafe, or unreachable.
• How it helps: These tools can let a grandparent handle school, routine daily care, and many medical decisions.
• How to apply or use it: For a short-term delegation, use the Michigan Legal Help Delegation of Parental Authority tool. For probate guardianship, Michigan courts use forms such as PC 651 and PC 653.
• What to gather or know first: County probate procedures and fees vary, so ask KCRC or Michigan Legal Help which court and forms fit your case.

Key Michigan warning: a non-military Delegation of Parental Authority usually lasts only 180 days. If only one parent signs it, the caregiver cannot make major school changes or consent to non-routine medical decisions. A full probate guardianship gives stronger authority, but Michigan kinship guidance is very clear that probate guardianship usually does not create foster care payments or GAP. Limited guardianship also requires the parents and caregiver to file together, and Michigan kinship guidance says the court does not enforce the support promises written into limited guardianship papers.

School enrollment and medical consent issues

• What it is: The paperwork rules that decide whether you can enroll a child, sign school forms, and consent to routine health care.
• Who can get it or use it: Every kinship family runs into this sooner or later, especially in the first weeks.
• How it helps: Getting the right paper early can stop school delays, rejected doctor visits, and missed prescriptions.
• How to apply or use it: Call the school district’s enrollment office before you go in. If the child is in foster care, ask about school-stability protections. If the child is doubled-up or homeless, ask for the district’s McKinney-Vento liaison.
• What to gather or know first: Bring any Delegation of Parental Authority, letters of guardianship, foster care placement papers, proof of address, and immunization or school records you have. District rules can vary.

Important distinction: in Michigan, children in foster care have school-stability protections under federal law, and children who qualify under McKinney-Vento can have immediate enrollment even without the usual records. For medical care, a Delegation of Parental Authority can authorize non-emergency care while a parent is away, but if only one parent signed, major decisions are limited. Without a valid legal paper, providers may refuse routine non-emergency care.

Medicaid and health insurance for grandchildren in a grandparent’s care

• What it is: Michigan’s child health coverage system, which uses one application for Medicaid and related children’s coverage pathways.
• Who can get it or use it: Foster children, low-income children living with grandparents, and some children with significant medical or developmental needs.
• How it helps: It can cover doctor visits, prescriptions, dental care, mental health care, and managed-care plan enrollment in the child’s county.
• How to apply or use it: Apply through MI Bridges or the state’s health coverage application page. After approval, plan enrollment is handled through MICHIGAN ENROLLS at 1-800-975-7630 or 1-888-367-6557.
• What to gather or know first: Health plans vary by county. If the child has a serious condition, ask about Children’s Special Health Care Services, the Home Care Children’s/TEFRA pathway, or the Children’s Waiver Program.

Michigan-specific rules worth knowing: children in foster care are eligible for Medicaid. The Children’s Waiver Program requires the child to live with a birth or adoptive parent or a relative who has been named the legal guardian by the court and who is not being paid to provide foster care. The TEFRA pathway can help a child with disabilities get Medicaid when the parent or guardian’s income would otherwise be too high.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

• What it is: Food Assistance Program benefits, school meals, and child nutrition supports.
• Who can get it or use it: Many kinship households can ask for the Food Assistance Program through MI Bridges. School-aged children on SNAP, TANF, or foster care can be directly certified for free school meals.
• How it helps: It reduces grocery costs and can cut school meal paperwork.
• How to apply or use it: Apply through MI Bridges, ask the school nutrition office about direct certification, and use Michigan’s school meals guidance if the school says it still needs a form.
• What to gather or know first: As of 7 April 2026, the public Summer EBT page still reflected the 2025 program year, so check the current page each spring instead of assuming a child is auto-enrolled for the new summer.

Housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

• What it is: Michigan’s housing and utility help for households under pressure, not a special grandparent-only housing program.
• Who can get it or use it: Low-income households, renters, people facing shutoff or homelessness, and some voucher applicants.
• How it helps: The main tools are State Emergency Relief, local Housing Assessment and Resource Agencies, Michigan Housing Locator, and MSHDA voucher programs.
• How to apply or use it: State Emergency Relief is applied for through MI Bridges. If you are homeless or about to lose housing, contact your local HARA or call 2-1-1. For vouchers, watch the MSHDA waiting-list page.
• What to gather or know first: State Emergency Relief uses household size, income, and asset rules. Voucher wait lists and project-based openings vary by county and property.

Current Michigan reality: MSHDA says it is assisting more than 29,000 families across all 83 counties through the Housing Choice Voucher program. But on the MSHDA waiting-list page checked for this guide on 7 April 2026, no statewide Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists were open. Some project-based voucher lists were still opening and closing by county and development, which is why local variation matters so much.

Kinship navigator help, support groups, respite, and legal help

• What it is: The practical support network that often keeps a placement from falling apart.
• Who can get it or use it: Kinship caregivers statewide, and in some cases foster or guardianship families.
• How it helps: KCRC offers information, referrals, support-group connections, and help with school, benefits, and legal questions. The Foster Care Navigator Program helps current and prospective foster families. Some regions also have local grandparent programs.
• How to apply or use it: Call KCRC at 1-800-535-1218, call the Foster Care Navigator Program at 1-855-642-4543, or use the KCRC support-group resources. In Oakland, Livingston, and Macomb Counties, OLHSA’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program offers free kinship services.
• What to gather or know first: State-run respite is mainly tied to children in foster care or under MDHHS supervision. Outside that system, local support groups and aging-network programs matter a lot more.

How to apply in Michigan without wasting time

• Open one MI Bridges account first. Use it for FIP, food assistance, Medicaid, State Emergency Relief, and child care.
• Ask MDHHS to screen both paths. Tell the worker you want to know whether the child should be treated as a child-only case or a full-family case.
• Use the application tracker. Michigan added a tracker in MI Bridges so you can see when the application was received, whether more proof is needed, and whether a decision was made.
• Upload proof quickly. A missing birth certificate or school paper can stall a case longer than people expect.
• Use phone and in-person help if online is hard. The MI Bridges Help Desk is 1-844-799-9876. MDHHS also points people to community partners for one-on-one navigation help.
• If the case is in a Universal Caseload county, use the team phone line. Michigan says those counties use teams rather than one named worker, and callers can use 1-844-464-3447.
• If you are pursuing GAP, do not let the court appointment happen before the agreement is signed. That timing mistake can cost a family years of help.

What documents grandparents need

• ☐ Your photo ID
• ☐ The child’s birth certificate, Social Security number, or school records if available
• ☐ Proof the child lives with you, such as school mail, placement papers, or a note from the parent, school, or agency
• ☐ Any court or agency papers, including foster care placement papers, letters of guardianship, or a Delegation of Parental Authority
• ☐ Proof of address, like a lease or utility bill
• ☐ Income proof for everyone in the home if you are asking for full-family benefits
• ☐ Medical insurance cards, immunization records, and the child’s doctor information
• ☐ School records, especially report cards, special education papers, or an Individualized Education Program
• ☐ Bank information if you may need direct deposit or SIGMA registration later for guardianship assistance

Reality checks

• Child-only TANF is not automatic: MDHHS still has to open the case, and workers sometimes need extra proof that the child is really living with you.

• Probate court can solve one problem and create another: it can give you authority for school and doctors, but it can also shut you out of foster-related money if you should have been on a foster-care track instead.

• County and district variation is real: school enrollment staff, probate courts, Medicaid plans, voucher lists, and support groups all vary across Michigan.

• Portal delays happen: if MI Bridges stalls, use the tracker, upload documents again if needed, and call the office instead of waiting for the next letter.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming “kinship care” automatically means foster care. In Michigan, it often does not.
• Filing for probate guardianship before asking whether a foster-care placement is possible.
• Applying only for cash and forgetting food, Medicaid, school, and housing help.
• Going to the school or doctor without calling first to ask what paperwork they will accept.
• Ignoring MI Bridges notices, missed document requests, or address changes.
• Letting a GAP court order get signed before the DHS-3313 agreement is done.

Best options by need

• If you need money this month: ask about child-only FIP, food assistance, school meals, and State Emergency Relief.
• If you need authority for school or doctor visits: use a Delegation of Parental Authority if a parent will cooperate, or ask about probate guardianship if the placement is longer-term.
• If the child is already a court or state ward: ask about relative foster care licensing and do not assume probate court is your best first move.
• If you are caring for a teen who may stay long-term: ask whether the case could qualify for juvenile guardianship with GAP instead of only probate guardianship.
• If housing is the main problem: use State Emergency Relief, HARA, 2-1-1, and the MSHDA waiting-list and housing-locator tools.
• If you feel lost in the system: call KCRC first.

What to do if denied, delayed, or blocked

• Read the notice line by line. Look for whether the problem is identity, residency, missing child information, or the wrong case type.
• Ask the worker a very specific question: “Is this being screened as a child-only case or a full-family case?”
• Upload proof in MI Bridges and keep the confirmation. If you mail papers, keep copies.
• Call the right office. Use the MDHHS county office map. In Universal Caseload counties, call 1-844-464-3447. For MI Bridges technical trouble, call 1-844-799-9876.
• For guardianship assistance problems, contact AGAO directly at 517-335-7801.
• Request a hearing or review using the instructions on your notice. Do not wait until the deadline is close.
• Get backup help. Call KCRC, use Michigan Legal Help, or call the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors at 1-800-347-5297 if you are age 60 or older.

Plan B and backup options

• If GAP is not available: ask for child-only FIP, food assistance, Medicaid, and school support instead of assuming there is no help.
• If foster care licensing feels too slow: keep pushing the worker on interim supports, child-only FIP, and medical coverage while the licensing decision moves.
• If housing vouchers are closed: use HARA, project-based voucher openings, and the Michigan Housing Locator.
• If the parent is still reachable: a Delegation of Parental Authority can buy time while you decide whether a longer court case is really necessary.

Local and statewide Michigan resources

• Kinship Care Resource Center: statewide kinship help line, 1-800-535-1218, with support-group and resource referrals. Use the official contact page.
• Foster Care Navigator Program: statewide help for current and prospective foster and kinship caregivers, 1-855-642-4543, through the official program site.
• Local MDHHS office map: use the MDHHS contact page to find the right county office and complaint path.
• OLHSA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: free kinship caregiving support in Oakland, Livingston, and Macomb Counties through OLHSA.
• Michigan Legal Help: self-help legal tools and legal-clinic finder at Michigan Legal Help.
• Housing crisis help: use HARA and 2-1-1 for shelter, rent, and crisis referrals.

Diverse communities in Michigan

• Seniors with disabilities: if the grandparent needs help staying in the home, ask MDHHS about Home Help. If the child has complex medical or developmental needs, ask about CSHCS, TEFRA, and the Children’s Waiver Program.
• Veteran seniors: if you are a homeless veteran or are at risk of homelessness while raising a child, ask your local HARA about shelter and rental help and check MSHDA’s HUD-VASH information through the voucher page.
• Rural seniors with limited access: use phone-based help first: KCRC, 2-1-1, the MI Bridges Help Desk, and your MDHHS county office. Michigan also says MI Bridges community partners can provide one-on-one navigation help.
• Tribal families: if the child may be an Indian child, tell the court and the caseworker right away. Michigan kinship guidance explains that the child’s tribe has notice and participation rights in guardianship, foster care, termination, and adoption cases.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a child-only TANF grant in Michigan if I never went to court?

Often, yes. Michigan’s guardianship assistance page says a child may still qualify for an Ineligible Grantee Award, also called a child-only FIP grant, regardless of household income. But cash assistance and legal authority are two different things. A child-only grant can help with money, while school and medical decisions may still require a Delegation of Parental Authority, guardianship papers, or foster care placement papers.

Can grandparents get foster care payments in Michigan?

Yes, but not just because the child lives with you. Michigan’s foster care payment page says a relative’s home may receive foster care payments if the home is licensed or if parental rights have been terminated. That usually means the child is part of a foster-care case, not simply living with you informally. If MDHHS is involved, ask right away whether you should be treated as a relative foster care placement before you file for probate guardianship.

What is the difference between probate guardianship and juvenile guardianship in Michigan?

Probate guardianship is a court arrangement outside the foster-care system. It can give a grandparent strong authority, but it usually does not create foster care payments or GAP. Juvenile guardianship happens after a foster-care case, and only that path can lead to Michigan’s Guardianship Assistance Program. The timing matters: the state says the guardianship assistance agreement must be signed before the court appoints the guardian.

How do I enroll my grandchild in school if I do not have every paper yet?

Call the district enrollment office first and explain the situation. If the child is in foster care, ask about school-stability protections. If the child is living with you because the family lost housing or is doubled-up due to hardship, ask for the district’s McKinney-Vento liaison. Take any paperwork you do have, such as a Delegation of Parental Authority, guardianship papers, proof of address, or foster care placement papers, and ask the school exactly what it will accept while records are being transferred.

Will my grandchild get Medicaid if the child is living with me?

Usually, there is at least a path worth checking. Children in foster care are eligible for Medicaid. Other children can be screened through MI Bridges or the state’s health coverage application page. If the child has a serious medical condition or disability, also ask about Children’s Special Health Care Services, TEFRA, or the Children’s Waiver Program. After approval, health-plan choices depend on the county, so use MICHIGAN ENROLLS to compare plans.

What should I do if my MI Bridges case has been pending for weeks?

Log in and check the application tracker first. Then upload any missing proofs again, save the confirmation, and call the office handling the case. If you are in a Universal Caseload county, Michigan says you can call 1-844-464-3447 for case-specific information and a live worker option. If the issue is technical, call the MI Bridges Help Desk at 1-844-799-9876. If the case is denied, use the notice to request a hearing or review quickly, and consider calling KCRC or Michigan Legal Help for backup.

Where can I find real support groups or legal help in Michigan?

The strongest statewide first stop is the Kinship Care Resource Center, which can connect you with support groups and practical help. If your case is tied to foster care, the Foster Care Navigator Program can also help. For legal self-help, use Michigan Legal Help. If you are age 60 or older and need legal guidance, KCRC’s legal guide points readers to the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors at 1-800-347-5297.

Resumen en español

Si usted es abuelo, abuela u otro familiar que ahora está criando a un niño en Michigan, la ayuda depende mucho de cómo llegó el niño a su hogar. Si el caso no está en foster care, muchas familias empiezan con una solicitud en MI Bridges para pedir efectivo, comida y cobertura médica. También conviene llamar al Kinship Care Resource Center al 1-800-535-1218, porque ofrecen ayuda gratuita para familias de parentesco en todo Michigan.

Si el niño ya está en el sistema de foster care, pregunte de inmediato sobre pagos de foster care, licenciamiento para familiares y el Guardianship Assistance Program antes de ir a la corte por su cuenta. Para escuela y cuidado médico, puede ser://michiganlegalhelp.org/resources/family/giving-someone-temporary-legal-power-make-decisions-your-child”>Delegation of Parental Authority o una tutela. Si necesita ayuda local, use el mapa de oficinas de MDHHS o busque apoyo de vivienda y crisis por medio de HARA y 2-1-1. Revise también las guías legales en español del KCRC si necesita una explicación más clara de sus opciones.

About This Guide

This guide uses official federal, state, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.

Editorial note: This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Verification: Last verified 7 April 2026, next review August 2026.

Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we respond within 72 hours.

Disclaimer: This article is informational only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, deadlines, and availability can change. Always confirm the current details directly with the official Michigan program, office, court, school district, health plan, or contractor before you act.