In October 2025, Michigan ended its contract with the West Michigan Partnership for Children (WMPC), a move that instantly jeopardized the care and stability of 426 children in Kent County’s foster care system. These are not just numbers—they are real kids, now left in limbo, while the state attempts to replace a decade-long model with no clear plan and no guarantee of continuity.

This contract cancellation didn’t come with a transition strategy. It didn’t include communication with the nonprofit or its foster care partners. In fact, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) allegedly told partner agencies not to contact WMPC at all. Judges and child welfare experts alike are sounding the alarm, calling it a “child welfare emergency.”

WMPC has piloted a performance-based model for foster care that has produced documented, measurable improvements:
– A 94% drop in children re-entering the system
– A 78% reduction in institutional placements
– A 71% increase in placements with relatives

These aren’t abstract metrics—they reflect more kids living in homes, more stability, and better futures. Ending the contract for a modest $3 million in savings is not only shortsighted, it’s dangerous.

Michigan lawmakers must reinstate WMPC’s contract and restore its funding immediately. The decision to cut ties was made without adequate explanation, and the replacement system—if there even is one—is still unclear. Without WMPC, foster youth lose out on transparent data, enhanced care, and critical wraparound services that the state currently can’t match.

We call on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and the state legislature to reverse this harmful decision. 

The 426 foster youth of Kent County deserve protection and stability. Sign this petition to demand immediate action.