Voices

We also know that data and best practices are only part of the story. Data can tell us what is happening. Best practices are potential solutions. But Michigan’s Children also knows that numbers don’t tell the whole story, and that good ideas only become good solutions if they are shaped by the children and families they are meant to serve. The stats on foster care in Michigan tell a story about how many kids are in the system, and how many placements they experience on average – but actually hearing from youth in the system is critical to advocacy.

Michigan’s Children has a long history of bringing the voices of Michiganders into policymaking spaces. We do this through our advocacy trainings, candidate forums, biannual Corey Summit, YouthSpeak work, through out podcasts and Lunch & Learns, through blogs, and through legislative meetings, and testimonials featuring real people.