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In this episode of The Foster Dad Directive, I walk through Michigan Compiled Law 722.958a, also known as the Foster Parent Bill of Rights, and explain what it means in real-world terms based on everything we’ve personally experienced. I break down the rights foster parents are supposed to have—being treated with dignity and respect, receiving full information about placements, getting proper training and support, being reimbursed on time, and being included in case planning and court proceedings. I also give personal updates about the continued grief of losing the baby placement, the recent passing of my grandfather, and the emotional toll that’s been weighing on me while trying to stay consistent with the podcast and advocacy work.

I then compare what the law promises with what we actually lived through, including lack of proper disclosures before placements, failures in training and support, delayed or missing mileage reimbursement, weak investigations into false complaints, and minimal assistance when children were suddenly removed from our home. I share how these breakdowns contributed to burnout, resentment toward the agency, and the feeling of being unsupported despite the legal protections that are supposedly in place. I also touch on grievance procedures, the role of the Child Advocate, and the limitations of legal remedies under the law, while being honest about how exhausting and discouraging it feels to keep fighting for accountability. This episode reflects both an explanation of foster parent rights and a raw look at how difficult it is when those rights aren’t meaningfully enforced.

00:00 — Intro, MCL 722.958a & Why It Matters

01:00 — Updates: Baby Gone, Email to Governor, Grandfather’s Passing

02:07 — What the Foster Parents Bill of Rights Covers

03:36 — Dignity, Respect, Trust & Agency Failures

06:52 — Civil Rights, Confidentiality & Written Evaluations

09:09 — Required Training, Support & Respite

11:03 — Lack of Grief & Family Loss Support

13:08 — Financial Reimbursement, Mileage & Investigations

17:01 — Placement Info Withheld & Emergency Removals

24:11 — Grievance Process, Legal Remedies & Closing Thoughts

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