May 14, 2026 | Foster Care & Adoption
“Mothers, Mothers, we do adore!”
From wiping tears and healing childhood scrapes to preparing favorite meals long after their children are grown, mothers carry a role that stretches far beyond a title. But motherhood is not defined only by biology. It is also found in the women who willingly step into the lives of children in need, grandmothers, aunties, teachers, adoptive mothers and foster moms who choose every day to love, nurture and protect.
This Mother’s Day, those women were celebrated at Wolverine Human Services during its “Muffins with Mom” Appreciation Day, an event designed to honor foster and adoptive mothers while strengthening the bond between families and the children in their care.
During the event, children laughed, created handmade flower bouquets, participated in arts and crafts and spent quality time with the mothers and caregivers who continue to show up for them. For many of the youth involved, these moments represent more than activities, they represent stability, love and connection.
Wolverine Human Services, a foster care and adoption agency serving Michigan families, works with children ranging from newborns to young adults over the age of 18. The organization helps individuals navigate the process of becoming foster or adoptive parents while providing support services for youth in care.
Monica Burrell, Director of Licensing and Placement Service at Wolverine Human Services, emphasized the importance of events like these. “Today is an appreciation event to give them some activities to do with the youth, their own children and the foster kids,” Burrell said. “It’s very important for children and parents that they can do activities together to be able to show them that it is a part of learning to be able to build a relationship with their foster parent.”
For Latoya Robinson, the journey into foster care and adoption became deeply personal. “So I was motivated because I found out in high school that I couldn’t have children on my own,” Robinson shared. “So I kind of debated with it for a couple years after high school on what I wanted to do. I was introduced into foster care and adoption, and once I got a license, it was up from there.” Now a foster and adoptive parent, Robinson encourages others to consider opening their homes.
“Every child needs a loving home, so I would say do it,” she said. “I am such an advocate for it because you’re helping children come out of situations that even we don’t want to be in. So I think it’s a wonderful opportunity. I think everybody should do it.” Michigan’s foster care system continues to face significant challenges. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 10,000 children are currently in foster care across the state. At the same time, the number of licensed foster homes has steadily declined in recent years, creating an urgent need for more families willing to serve.
Even after children age out of foster care, the need for support does not disappear. Through programs such as Voluntary Foster Care and Independent Living, young adults pursuing careers or higher education continue receiving guidance and support as they transition into adulthood.
The reality is simple but urgent: thousands of children across Michigan are still waiting for safe, stable and loving homes. For many, Mother’s Day is about celebration. But for foster and adoptive families, it is also a reminder that love can be chosen, families can be built in unexpected ways and one caring home can completely change the course of a child’s life.