By Staff
LANSING – Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has signed legislation that will further protect children in Michigan beginning Jan. 1 by requiring criminal background checks to be conducted on a national level for all licensees of children's foster care homes.
The new law brings Michigan into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
"We can leave no stone unturned when it comes to protecting children," Granholm said. "We must insure that as a state, we are doing everything we can to keep kids safe no matter where they are."
Under Public Act 218 of 2007, sponsored by state Sen. Gerald Van Woerkom, R-Norton Shores, the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) will be required to conduct national criminal background checks on all licensees in prospective foster homes.
Background checks will include a fingerprint of foster home licensees and an Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) check of all household members 18 years or older.
If an applicant or adult resident in the household has been convicted of a listed offense, a foster care license will not be issued or renewed.
The other new laws (Public Acts 217, 219 and 220 of 2007), sponsored by state Sen. Gilda Jacobs, D-Huntington Woods, protect children by expanding the facilities licensed by the state to include children's campsites and children's therapeutic group homes.
"We want to insure that Michigan is the safest place in the nation for families to live and children to learn," said Granholm. "Thanks to the leadership of Sens. Van Woerkom and Jacobs, we now have important new tools to protect our kids." These legislative changes continue the governor's efforts to fundamentally reform and strengthen Michigan's child welfare system and the protection of children in regulated care settings. Other initiatives imposed under the Granholm administration include expansion of automated background checks for all child care providers, forensic interviewing training for Children's Protective Services workers and increased staffing for children's services.