Our Advisory Council

​Our council members are a diverse group of professionals and homemakers but we have one commonality, our experience as licensed foster parents and our love and compassion for children and families who have been involved with the child welfare system. We are dedicated to cultivating an organized community of foster, adoptive and kinship parents who will be the catalyst for positive change. We know and understand that when it comes to fostering and adopting out of the foster care system you must support the family in order to support the child. We meet several times a year to discuss key issues and to brainstorm different avenues for resolution.  We love out of the box thinking and we welcome your ideas and suggestions for positive change. You can contact our board by emailing [email protected]

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Lara Bouse is a longtime foster and kinship (FAK) parent, advocate, and public speaker with nearly forty years of experience in child welfare. Executive Director of Fostering Forward Michigan, she works to ensure family voices shape policy, practice, and reform at both state and national levels.

 “I am very excited about the work that Fostering Forward Michigan is doing on behalf of Michigan families and kids,” Lara said. “After this many years on this foster care journey, I know how essential community support and training is for every family that has a child in transition. I am committed to ensuring our kids and families have the services and supports they need and I believe that Fostering Forward Michigan can have a big impact in this area.”

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