With the House releasing their version of the budgets last week, the FY26 budget is moving towards final negotiations. We need your help to move two of the Federation’s targeted investments to the finish line and close critical gaps for youth and families. Please take one minute to send a message to your State Representative and State Senator.
What Federation Members are advocating for:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Adoption: Include $4.9 million for the Adoption line to sustain adoption services.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Independent Living Plus (ILP): Include $1.9 million to support a 20% ILP rate increase necessary to support services delivered by community-based organizations to keep older youth in foster care supported on their path to independence. </li>
</ul>
What is included in the budget recommendations being negotiated:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Adoption: Executive $4.9M; Senate $980,000; House not included</li>
<li>ILP: Executive $1.9M; Senate $100 placeholder; House not included</li>
</ul>
 Thank you for taking time to advocate for Michigan’s children and families!

Take Action: Your Voice Matters in Final FY26 Budget Negotiations

Thank you for your work on the FY26 budget. I am a constituent and a leader of a nonprofit community-based organization. We partner with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to provide child welfare and behavioral health services in your district.

As you are focused on the final budget, I wanted to alert you to two targeted investments that have a direct impact on kids and families in your district: Adoption and Independent Living Plus. 

1) Adoption. We are requesting your support in appropriating the $4.9 million for the Adoption Support Services line, included in the Executive budget recommendations. 

Adoption funding supports the work and attention agencies provide to prepare adoptive families, move cases forward, and reduce delays for children in foster care that are waiting to be with their permanent family. This amount would support both the child’s agency and the family’s agency when a child has a photo profile on the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) website. It would support the efforts of recruiting and matching families and supporting the child through the adoption process, which is not currently funded.

2) The Foster Care Independent Living Plus (ILP) program. We are requesting your support in appropriating the $1.9 million that was included in the Executive Budget to help close the gap between costs and reimbursement so programs remain available statewide.

 ILP is a critical step in the placement continuum. It is less restrictive than residential treatment settings and supportive in transitioning youth preparing for living on their own in adulthood. Youth receive safe, supervised housing with life-skills coaching, help with school and work, and access to behavioral health supports so they can transition to adulthood with safety nets in place. 

Thank you for your leadership and for supporting Michigan’s kids and families.