Do you speak out, take a stand, or not? It is always hard to make that decision, especially when you are a large child welfare agency serving our state. At Wolverine, we have been able to find the answer more easily by simply going back and reading our mission statement: “Helping Children to be Victors.”
Remembering our mission statement was helpful last summer during our adventure with the unaccompanied minors issue, and it became helpful again during last week’s issue on the law passed in Michigan regarding the faith-based agencies. In all things, Wolverine tries to best meet the needs of all children in our communities.
I believe that, at least for myself, this started with my father, Clarence Fischer. In 1969, he helped found Homes for Black Children in Michigan, the first specialized African American adoption agency in the United States. During my summers in high school, I would deliver mail between Lutheran Children’s Friend Society and Homes for Black Children, with both agencies on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit. I got to view firsthand the passion that not only my father brought into this project, but also the deep passion of all the staff. Within the first year, they placed 100 children into adoptive homes.
I learned that there are many different types of families and children, all with very different needs. At Wolverine, we try always to fulfill that reality with the many different programs we have, serving all children and families. Any child. Any parent. Any time. (TM)
Another major development in juvenile justice that happened two weeks ago was the decision to close the public facility of W.J. Maxey Boys Training School in October 2015. There was great concern about how those youth will now be served in our state. Wolverine Secure Treatment Center in Buena Vista, MI has been serving these same youth since 1997. Additionally, there are other agencies in our state that have secure beds to treat these youth. We have a full variety of treatment programs ready to serve youth in our 100-bed facility. If you would like to know more about our work at Wolverine Secure Treatment Center, simply click here or call for a tour.
So back to the original statement, in both subjects…….
Helping Children to be Victors:
Any child. Any parent. Any time. (TM)
Are you interested in becoming a care provider for a child looking for a forever family? We would love to hear from you! Call (888) 625-8669 or email providecare@wolverinehs.org. A member of our team is waiting to speak with you!
Judith Fischer Wollack, LCSW, ACSW, LMSW, started working with Michigan’s most vulnerable children and families when she was 16 years old. She is now CEO of Wolverine Human Services and President of the Association of Accredited Child and Family Agencies (AACFA). She actively works with policymakers in Lansing to advocate for the needs of youth and families in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.