Bethany Christian Services Grand Rapids
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Contact Information
901 Eastern Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
United States
Online Contact Form
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
United States
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9AM - 5PM |
| Tuesday | 9AM - 5PM |
| Wednesday | 9AM - 5PM |
| Thursday | 9AM - 5PM |
| Friday | 9AM - 5PM |
| Saturday | 9AM - 5PM |
| Sunday | 9AM - 5PM |
Being a foster parent is so much more than loving a child in your home. It’s also showing kindness to a family when they need it most.
It’s giving a child a safe place to land during a hard, scary time when they’re away from home. And it’s showing compassion to a parent who is likely overwhelmed, scared, and without a lot of support.
It’s helping a child stay connected to the only home they’ve ever known, in whatever way it’s safe to do so, and cheering on a family that’s living out a comeback story.
At Bethany, our heart beats for family. We want to see families strong, supported, and together. But we know there are times when families face challenges—and children need care.
That’s why we’re seeking foster parents who believe in families too.
Services and information
- Traditional Foster Care
- Specialized / Therapeutic Care
- Emergency Foster Care
- Respite Foster Care
- Adoption
Requirements to become a foster parent
Parents can access the Michigan Foster Care Portal (MFCP), which is a tool that helps expedite licensure. The portal can track progress and list the next steps a foster parent needs to take. The MFCP also contains FAQs and helpful guides for parents.
In addition to online tools, foster families also receive some financial support. How much they receive depends on the child's age and needs. Parents may also be entitled to additional reimbursement that covers care costs.
Plus, foster families can access many local and state-wide support organizations and advocacy groups. These groups provide resources, answer questions, and are happy to help form connections between foster parents.
Your foster care agency is always there if you have questions or concerns. Their goal is to ensure the child's well-being and assist parents through the fostering process and beyond.
Another path you might want to consider is co-parenting with the birth parents. The end goal in most foster cases is to reunite a child with their parents or primary caregiver. You'll work with the birth parents anyway to set up visitations, and co-parenting can make your job easier.
Working further with the birth parents can also make the entire fostering process less stressful for a child. They won't feel as if they have to "choose" between homes and families.
Ratings and Reviews
Average user rating
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Oct 18, 2019
This is our letter sent to Jeffrey Carlson (Bethany’s VP of Regional Operations) on Oct. 12th 2019:
We are the Smith's and perhaps you’re already aware of our personal story involving Open Adoption Fraud and Civil Rights violation against your Bethany Christian Services branch office in Memphis, TN.
To give a brief glance of our story, we got custody of our grandbaby after she was born through Juvenile court. We are recognized as her birth parents in the State of Tenn. She spent her first two months of her life in NICU and we have raised her for three years.
We are an African American couple and our grandbaby is White and we love her dearly. In Jan. 2018, we made a difficult decision to go through an Open Adoption with the agency. In the beginning, we made it known and very clear to the agency and the adoptive couple that we wanted to be natural active grandparents and both sides agreed. We shared in multiple meetings and in letters regarding our detailed desires. Our grandbaby transitioned into the adoptive couple’s home in May 2018.
To sum it up, the Memphis agency and the adoptive couple gave us the impression we were in an Open Adoption agreement, only to shut us out of our baby’s life post finalization. In Oct. 2018, we asked for our baby to be returned. Bethany’s director refused and tried to proceed to finalization against our wishes. We hired an attorney and have been in Family Court since Nov. 2018. The attorneys representing the agency and the adoptive couple have used every legal avenue and loophole against us.
Bethany’s Memphis branch and the adoptive couple lied, baited and coerced us into believing that we were going to be in an Open Adoption. In February 2019, we followed proper procedures according to your website to file a complaint with Bethany's office in Grand Rapids, MI and spoke to Janelle Beimers. We told her Bethany and the adoptive couple have cut us off from our baby and the adoption is not finalized, " she replied that was strange". We emailed her and received a confirmation response from her. In addition, we filed a complaint to the Director of the Office for Civil Right U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. To no avail, we never received a response regarding our concern. We also learned in February that Bethany hired an insurance attorney. This is just a part of Bethany's tactics.
It’s by God’s grace we have managed to survive a full year since asking for our grandbaby to be returned on Oct. 9, 2018. We would like an explanation on why Bethany continues to fight against us after we discovered the truth. There is no reason we have not seen or heard from our baby over a year and this adoption is not finalized. We plan to continue our fight for justice and to bring awareness. My wife and I have done much research on Bethany Christian Services and found this agency has a long history of coerced forced adoptions, family separation and child trafficking. Bethany Christian Services is nowhere close to CHRISTIANITY. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!
Sep 04, 2019
You need to take off that 4th picture. It is really disgusting.
Apr 15, 2019
After they placed me with a Christian Ref Evangelist & his wife at the age of 9. & splitting us kids all up & I never saw them again. In 1961-62. STILL LOOKING FOR THEM !!! 😢 😠 YOU NEVER FOLLOWED UP TO SEE IF SHE WAS ABUSIVE. AND I KNOW NEIGHBORS IN GRANDVILLE MI. CALLED YOU
Nov 19, 2018
Very bad place they play favorites don’t listen and play parents against each other also Christine Collin lies in court I know cuz she done it to me and others witch is my friends she also is not a very good worker she has a bad attitude and my child done came to me with scratches on here the foster moms don’t well the one that has mine don’t cater to my child they let my child get a rash on her Lady part n all she said was it’s cuz she sick and cuz she’s growing teeth she been growing teeth since she was with me n has never had a rash down there they are the worse Forster care in Grand Rapids Michigan
Nov 09, 2018
I am a foster parent. I love the kids I have, however the courts and agency order the kids to remain in there schools. So we get mileage. However, I have been trying to get my reimbursement for the last 3 months if mileage. I keep getting the run around.