History

Shared Family Care (SFC) is an initiative working to support meaningful connections between both foster children and biological parents in a supporting, comfortable environment alongside volunteer mentors. 

SFC is supported by the Benzie County Circuit Court and MDHHS to facilitate more than the two-hour regulated parenting time for children 0-3 years old and build on the 1 hour per week time allocated for connections between parents and foster children 4 years and older. 

This program addresses a key gap of overburdened case workers, lack of availability and affordability of regulated parenting time centers, and the accessibility for rural communities.  SFC seeks to build a strong community that supports trauma-informed care to lift up families in need.  

Goals.

  1. Meaningful reunifications between biological parents and children.
  2. Reducing separation trauma for children.
  3. Building relationships with volunteer mentors.
  4. Developing parenting skills and connect parents with community resources.

Reach out to Shared Family Care to get involved today!

  • The SFC is a project supported by a core, interdisciplinary leadership team.

    The leadership team includes representatives from:

    • MDHHS

    • Foster Parents

    • Friend of the Court

    • Juvenile Court

    • Great Start Collaborative

    • 5toONE

    • Grow Benzie

    • Advocates for Benzie County

    • Advocates for Manistee County

  • SFC is seeking volunteers with mentor experience, reliable transportation, and the ability to pass a background check to assist in three-month increments to assist with supporting families and children enrolled in the program. To learn more, contact the SFC Coordinator, Susan Johnson, at sjsharedfamilycare@gmail.com

  • SFC operates on a bare-bones budget to provide meaningful opportunities for connection between families displaced due to CPS, custody, homelessness, joblessness, and unexpected family events. Current funding for the SFC is seeded from the Benzie County Community Chest, Benzie County Circuit Court, and donations. Every contribution from the community helps sustain important, small-scale efforts like the SFC.