State of Michigan
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING
RICK SNYDER

MAURA D. CORRIGAN

GOVERNOR

DIRECTOR

March 19, 2012
Deborah Nykamp
Catholic Charities West Michigan
40 Jefferson Avenue, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4304
RE: License #: CB410245705
Investigation #: 2012C0208023
Catholic Charities West Michigan
Dear Ms. Nykamp:
Attached is the Special Investigation Report for the above referenced facility. Due to the
violations identified in the report, a written corrective action plan is required. The
corrective action plan is due 15 days from the date of this letter and must include the
following:
•
•
•
•
•

How compliance with each rule will be achieved.
Who is directly responsible for implementing the corrective action for each violation.
Specific time frames for each violation as to when the correction will be completed or
implemented.
How continuing compliance will be maintained once compliance is achieved.
The signature of the responsible party and a date.

Please review the enclosed documentation for accuracy and feel free to contact me with
any questions or if you desire technical assistance in addressing these issues. In the
event that I am not available and you need to speak to someone immediately, please
feel free to contact Deborah Clark, Area Manager, at (906) 228-2852.
Sincerely,

Vernon Oard, Licensing Consultant
Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing
Unit 13, 7th Floor
350 Ottawa, N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 356-0119
P.O. BOX 30650 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-8150
www.michigan.gov • (517) 335-6124

 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
License #:

CB410245705

Investigation #:

2012C0208023

Complaint Receipt Date:

02/10/2012

Investigation Initiation Date:

02/17/2012

Report Due Date:

04/10/2012

Licensee Name:

Catholic Charities West Michigan

Licensee Address:

40 Jefferson SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4304

Licensee Telephone #:

Unknown

Administrator:

N/A

Licensee Designee:
Name of Facility:

Catholic Charities West Michigan

Facility Address:

40 Jefferson Avenue, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4304

Facility Telephone #:

(616) 456-1443

Original Issuance Date:

03/15/2002

License Status:

REGULAR

Effective Date:

11/01/2010

Expiration Date:

10/31/2012

Capacity:

Unknown

Program Type:

CHILD PLACING AGENCY, PRIVATE

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 II.

ALLEGATION(S)
Catholic Charities West Michigan placed a four year old male foster child in an
Ottawa County DHS foster home without that agency’s permission or knowledge.
Four days into the placement the nearly five year old child jumped from the foster
parent’s moving vehicle and was injured.

III.

METHODOLOGY
02/10/2012
Special Investigation Intake - 2012C0208023
02/17/2012

Special Investigation Initiated - On Site. Reviewed Child A’s file.
Interviewed Foster Care Supervisor Ann Maring. Interviewed the
complainant.

02/17/2012

Exit Conference with Adoption Supervisor Moira Monaghan.

ALLEGATION:
Catholic Charities West Michigan placed a four year old male foster child in an
Ottawa County DHS foster home without that agency’s permission or knowledge.
Four days into the placement the nearly five year old child jumped from the foster
parent’s moving vehicle and was injured.
INVESTIGATION:
This consultant reviewed Child A’s file. On January 23, 2012, Foster Mother A
submitted a written notice to Catholic Charities West Michigan requesting to have
Child A removed from her home within 14 days. On January 30, 2012, a
permanency planning meeting was held regarding Child A. An Action Summary
dated February 6, 2012, states, “On January 30, 2012, (Child A) was placed in
respite care in a former foster home (Ottawa County DHS Foster Home B) where his
brother is currently placed because the foster mother (Foster Mother A) needed
assistance in caring for (Child A) until he could be moved.” On February 2, 2012,
Child A was riding in a car seat in the back seat of Foster Mother B’s car when Child
A fell from the moving vehicle. A police report dated February 2, 2012, states,
“(Foster Mother B) said he (Child A) got out of his car seat and seat belt and opened
the door and exited the vehicle. (Foster Mother B) noticed him (Child A) in the
middle of the roadway.” A physician’s note from an urgent care center dated
February 2, 2012, states, “There are abrasions over the left side of (Child A’s) face,
forehead, and the cheek and the upper eyelid. There are some blackish marks on
the left side of the abdomen, concerning for possible tire marks. There is also some
abrasion on the right anterior knee as well as the left hand between the thumb and
the index finger. ” Child A was treated and released from the urgent care center on
February 2, 2012. Child A was placed in Foster Home C, a foster home licensed by
Catholic Charities West Michigan on February 3, 2012. Child A’s file did not contain
any of the documentation required by R 400.12315 regarding borrowed homes.
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 Catholic Charities West Michigan Foster Care Supervisor Ann Maring stated that
she attended a permanency planning meeting regarding Child A on Monday,
January 30, 2012. Ms. Maring stated that, at the meeting, Foster Mother A said, “He
(Child A) can’t come home with us.” Ms. Maring stated that individuals in attendance
at the meeting immediately began problem solving to identify temporary placement
options for Child A. Ms. Maring stated that Foster Mother B was at the meeting and
asked what she could do. After talking with Foster Father B, Foster Mother B
volunteered to take Child A home with her and did so. When asked if she had talked
with licensing staff from Ottawa County DHS regarding placing Child A in Foster
Home B (an Ottawa County DHS foster home), Ms. Maring stated, “I talked with
someone at Ottawa County DHS on Wednesday (February 1, 2012). I mentioned
that he (Child A) was at (Foster Home B).”
This consultant interviewed the complainant who stated, “I never knew that (Child A)
was placed at (Ottawa County DHS Foster Home B). No one from Catholic Charities
ever called me. I was at a meeting on (Wednesday) February 1, 2012, and heard
that Catholic Charities West Michigan needed a foster home for a four year old. I
said, ‘We don’t have a home for his needs.’” The complainant stated that she didn’t
find out that Child A was at Foster Home B until she received a phone call on Friday,
February 3, 2012, from a DHS worker investigating Child A falling from Foster
Mother B’s vehicle on February 2, 2012. The complainant stated that there was a
permanency planning meeting regarding Child A and his siblings on Monday,
January 30, 2012. Foster Mother B was in attendance at the meeting since Child A’s
brother is placed at Foster Home B. The complainant stated that Foster Mother A
brought Child A to the meeting and said that Child A couldn’t return home with her.
The complainant stated, “He (Child A) was packed and (Foster Mother B) was asked
if (Child A) could go home with her.” The complainant stated, “(Foster Mother B)
didn’t know what to do since (Child A) was standing right there, so she and her
husband agreed to take (Child A) home for 48 hours. The 48 hours was up on
Wednesday, February 1, 2012, and (Child A) was still at (Foster Home B). Then,
(Child A) fell out of the car on February 2.” The complainant stated, “This wasn’t a
respite arrangement since Child A was clearly not returning to (Foster Home A). This
became an emergency placement.” The complainant stated that Foster Home B (an
Ottawa County DHS foster home) is now under investigation regarding Child A
falling from Foster Mother B’s vehicle on February 2, 2012. The complainant stated
that Child A was previously placed in Foster Home B (an Ottawa County DHS foster
home borrowed by Catholic Charities West Michigan) and that Foster Mother B and
Foster Father B had submitted a written request for the “replacement” (removing a
foster child from one foster home and placing the child into another foster home) of
Child A on March 21, 2011.
An email written on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, by Catholic Charities West Michigan
Foster Care Specialist Cora Christiaans states, “We had a PPC (permanency
planning meeting) yesterday to discuss (Child A) moving. He is currently spending a
couple days with (Foster Mother B), but (Foster Home A) will not take him back
permanently.”

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 APPLICABLE RULE
R 400.12315
Borrowed home.
(1)

ANALYSIS:

Before placing a child in a foster home certified by another
agency, an agency shall have a record containing all of the
following documents:
(a) Prior approval from the certifying agency authorizing
the placement of a child in the home.
(b) Documentation that the foster parent is willing to
accept the foster child.
(c) A copy of the initial evaluation with written
endorsement by the borrowing agency that the
evaluation is acceptable.
(d) A copy of the current reevaluation with written
endorsement by the borrowing agency that the
evaluation is acceptable.
(e) A list of all children currently placed in the home.
(f)
Documentation that the foster parent has received
orientation to the policies of the borrowing agency.
(g) A copy of the placement agreement signed by the
foster parent and the borrowing agency.
(h) A copy of the current license certification documents
from the certifying agency.
(i)
A copy of all special evaluations completed during
the last 2 years.

Catholic Charities West Michigan placed Child A in Foster Home
B (a foster home licensed by Ottawa County DHS) without prior
approval from or the knowledge of Ottawa County DHS. The
borrowed home rule regarding placement applies to this
situation since Foster Mother A had no intention of Child A
returning to her home. In this instance, the agency did not have
a record containing any of the documentation required by the
borrowed home rule.
Rule R400.12315 (Borrowed home) was also cited in the
December 15, 2011, interim inspection report.

CONCLUSION:

REPEAT VIOLATION ESTABLISHED

ADDITIONAL FINDINGS:
During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Child A was previously
placed (in 2011) by Catholic Charities West Michigan in Foster Home B (an Ottawa
County DHS foster home borrowed by Catholic Charities West Michigan). A March
21, 2011, email written by Foster Mother B to Ottawa Co. DHS licensing staff states,
“We are sorry to inform you that we need to break the placement with (Child A).”

4

 A March 28, 2011 Permanency Planning Conference Activity Report regarding Child
A states, “(Child A) in particular is having a difficult time and (is) physically
aggressive towards all family members and also damaging the home. (Foster
Parents B) indicate that (Child A) needs a lot of one-on-one attention, he is really
busy, doesn’t sleep, they are worried for his physical safety as he is a very
strong/active boy but does not understand anything as dangerous. A lot of time was
spent discussing (Child A’s) needs.” The report goes on to say, “(Child A) will be
placed with another and what appears to be a better matched family.” Child A was
“replaced” from Foster Home B on April 4, 2011.
APPLICABLE RULE
R 400.12404
Placement.
(3) An agency shall consider all of the following factors in
selecting an appropriate placement for a child:
(b) The physical, emotional, and educational needs of
the child.
ANALYSIS:

On January 30, 2012, Catholic Charities West Michigan placed
Child A in a borrowed foster home from which Child A had been
removed in 2011 at Foster Mother B and Foster Father B’s
request. Foster Parents B clearly expressed concerns in 2011
regarding Child A’s safety in their home and their challenges in
providing for Child A’s extensive mental health needs and
behavioral concerns. A permanency planning conference held in
April of 2011 agreed that Child A’s needs would be better met in
another foster home. Child A was injured (and required medical
attention) on February 2, 2012, three days after being placed
back in Foster Home B when he exited Foster Mother B’s
moving vehicle.
This consultant reviewed multiple licensing cycles regarding
Catholic Charities West Michigan. This review included both
licensing evaluations and special investigations. The agency
has been cited 12 times for violating some aspect of
R400.12404 (Placement) and has been cited two additional
times for violating this specific section [R400.12404(3)(b)]. The
agency must identify and correct systemic issues which
contribute to this established historical trend of violations of
R400.12404. This consultant is available to provide both
technical assistance to meet the licensing requirements and
consultation to improve services.

CONCLUSION:

VIOLATION ESTABLISHED

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 IV.

RECOMMENDATION
Upon the receipt of an acceptable corrective action plan, I recommend no change in
the license of this child placing agency, private.

Vernon Oard
Licensing Consultant

Date: March 1, 2012

Approved By:

March 19, 2012
Deborah Clark
Area Manager

Date:

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