WMPC has filed an appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals. The appeal is not about preserving a role for WMPC as an organization, but about ensuring the law supporting a performance-driven foster care system is interpreted and implemented as intended.
In October 2025, MDHHS chose not to renew WMPC’s contract, ending our administration of Kent County’s performance-based foster care model. WMPC pursued litigation to protect the framework and system we built, which was designed to align funding with child and family outcomes and support shared community responsibility. WMPC went to court to clarify how the state would continue to meet legal requirements for maintaining the foster care model established in Kent County, specifically the prospective payment structure and performance-based approach required under state law.
On February 25, 2026, the Michigan Court of Claims issued a ruling in favor of MDHHS. While we respect the judicial process, WMPC respectfully disagrees with the Court’s interpretation of the statute and believes the decision departs from the Legislature’s intent to create a community-based, performance-driven system of care. WMPC is appealing this decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
“We are disappointed in the outcome,” said WMPC CEO Sonia Noorman. “Our team has remained fully committed, prepared, and ready to continue serving Kent County’s children and families. While this ruling represents a significant shift, our commitment to improving systems that support children and families does not change.”
Since 2017, WMPC led Michigan’s only performance-based foster care model, focused on accountability, innovation, and improved outcomes for children and families. Throughout this process, more than 400 children in Kent County have been impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the model’s future.
WMPC remains deeply grateful to its staff, partners, providers, and community members for their dedication and support. As the appeal process moves forward, we will continue to share updates as additional information becomes available.
Learn what this means for children and families, how WMPC is responding, and how you can support continued system reform by reviewing our FAQs below.
Learn more about what WMPC does, why their work is important, and how you can help.
In October 2025, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) chose not to renew West Michigan Partnership for Children’s contract to administer the Kent County performance-based foster care model. As a result, WMPC’s role in administering the model ended.
The case sought clarification on how the State of Michigan would implement and maintain the foster care model established in Kent County under state law. Specifically, the law requires a prospective payment structure (PPS) and a performance-based foster care (PBFC) approach.
After MDHHS ended WMPC’s contract in October 2025, WMPC pursued litigation to clarify how the state intended to continue meeting those statutory requirements.
On February 25, 2026, the Michigan Court of Claims issued a ruling in favor of MDHHS, concluding that the state’s current approach satisfies the statutory requirements. While WMPC respects the judicial process, we respectfully disagree with the Court’s interpretation and believe the decision departs from the Legislature’s intent to establish a community-based, performance-driven system of care.
WMPC has filed an appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals seeking further review of the decision.
WMPC filed a lawsuit to seek clarification on how the State intended to comply with Michigan law governing the Kent County foster care system. The law established a performance-based model that includes a prospective payment structure and accountability for child and family outcomes. WMPC’s goal in pursuing litigation was to protect the framework created by the Legislature and ensure the system remained aligned with those requirements.
The ruling concludes this phase of litigation and confirms that MDHHS will continue as the lead administrator of the foster care system, as it has been since October 2025. Children and families continue to receive care and support from private foster care providers in Kent County. WMPC remains focused on supporting staff, partners, and children during this transition while exploring ways to continue advancing positive outcomes in the community.
Yes. WMPC has filed an appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals seeking further judicial review of how the statute governing the Kent County foster care model should be interpreted and implemented.
WMPC is pursuing the appeal because we believe the Legislature intended to create a community-based, performance-driven system that prioritizes outcomes for children and families. Our goal is not to preserve a role for WMPC as an organization, but to ensure the long-term integrity of the model and advance meaningful system reform in child welfare.
No. The appeal process does not change the current administration of foster care services in Kent County. Services for children and families continue to be provided through the existing system overseen by MDHHS and contracted providers.
MDHHS has served as the lead administrator of the foster care system in Kent County since October 2025, and that structure remains in place while the appeal moves forward.
Children and families continue to receive care and support from private foster care providers in Kent County. WMPC remains focused on supporting staff, partners, and children during this transition while continuing to advocate for systems that improve outcomes for children and families.
Under a Prospective Payment System (PPS), the lead or consortium agency receives a prospective, predetermined allocation—typically paid quarterly—before services are delivered, rather than being reimbursed for individual services after the fact. Rates are set in advance by an independent actuarial firm based on expected service needs and risk.
This payment structure allows for:
In the absence of WMPC fulfilling this role, the system has reverted to a fee-for-service model, where agencies are reimbursed for each discrete service delivered. Fee-for-service systems often incentivize volume rather than outcomes and can limit flexibility and innovation in program design and service delivery.
WMPC is deeply grateful to the staff, partners, providers, and community members who contributed to building and operating the Kent County model. Their work helped support children and families across the community and laid important groundwork for improving foster care systems in Michigan.
As a result of the contract ending and the transition of the Kent County system, WMPC has had to separate from most of its team members. We are committed to supporting them during this transition and remain incredibly proud of the impact they made on behalf of children and families.
A small number of team members will remain with WMPC to continue advancing future projects, supporting system reform efforts, and sharing lessons learned from the Kent County model.
More than 400 children in Kent County have been impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the future of the foster care model during this process.
The appeal will move through the Michigan Court of Appeals process. WMPC will continue to review legal options and share updates as information becomes available.
Updates will be shared on WMPC’s website and through partner communications as the appeal process progresses.
The Court of Claims determined that MDHHS’s current system meets the statutory requirements governing foster care in Kent County. As a result, the ruling did not restore WMPC’s prior administrative role.
WMPC is appealing the decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
In October 2025, MDHHS chose not to renew WMPC’s contract for fiscal year 2026, ending WMPC’s role in administering the performance-based foster care model in Kent County.
WMPC subsequently pursued litigation to clarify how the state would maintain the model required under Michigan law.
The WMPC model demonstrated that aligning funding with measurable outcomes can improve stability, permanency, and well-being for children in foster care.
Key outcomes included:
These results demonstrate the potential impact of a performance-driven, community-focused child welfare system.
WMPC continues to advocate for children and families because we believe foster care systems should prioritize outcomes, accountability, and community responsibility.
Our decision to appeal is rooted in that belief. This effort is not about preserving WMPC as an agency—it is about protecting and advancing a model designed to improve outcomes for children and families. We remain committed to supporting reforms that strengthen the child welfare system, regardless of who administers it.
WMPC administered foster care funding in ways that align resources with child and family outcomes.
Our work focused on improving outcomes for children by reducing time in foster care, increasing placement stability, and strengthening permanency. These efforts demonstrated that accountability and performance-driven funding can improve the lives of children and families.
While WMPC no longer administers the Kent County model, our commitment to innovation and improved outcomes for children remains strong.
The experience of building Michigan’s only prospective-payment, performance-driven foster care system has reinforced the importance of accountability, measurable results, and community-based solutions.
WMPC’s future innovation work is expanding beyond foster care administration into upstream prevention, housing stabilization, healthcare coordination, strategic consulting, and systems redesign. The Kent County model proved that accountability, data, and community partnership can transform outcomes and WMPC is now bringing that expertise to new cross-sector challenges facing children and families.
Yes. While WMPC no longer administers the performance-based model, we remain committed to supporting children, families, and the broader child welfare system through partnerships, advocacy, and continued innovation.
WMPC is entering its next chapter by applying what we built in Kent County to broader systems challenges affecting children and families. Our future work includes housing stabilization, healthcare partnerships, prevention-focused innovation, policy advocacy, strategic consulting, and performance-driven implementation support for communities seeking better outcomes upstream.
Beyond the appeal, WMPC is actively building its next chapter through housing innovation, healthcare partnerships, technical assistance, systems redesign, and policy leadership that help communities keep families safely together.
You can make a difference by staying informed, advocating for children and families, and supporting local foster care providers.
Every action helps ensure children in foster care receive safe, stable, and supportive placements.
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