Lutheran Social Services of Michigan DHS of Michigan lied and scammed me Grand Rapids, Michigan

 We have had NOTHING but problems with lutheran social services, we didnt even bother to complain about money. We were foster parents we didnt real care but they have treated us so disrespectfully

The director at the aurora il office is very rude and doesnt really care about the children and their well being, she only cares how mucch money she can bring in and thats with the LSSI as a whole. We did get a lawyer!

I am happy to report that I did in fact receive a check for the full amount today.

Let me assure you that I was "in it" as you say to help a child in need; one child.  My daughter and this young girl were classmates.  She came to me and told me her story.  Of course I had to help her.

I understand you have no idea from this report exactly all I did for this young girl, so I have to sympathize a bit with your comment.  On the other hand, it's very irresponsible to make such comments as this without knowing all the facts.

I'm not a foster parent.  I was a host parent.  I opened my home for one specific child.  A child I didn't even know was in the system in the beginning.  This is quite a bit different than foster parents.

Please learn the facts before making assumptions.

I am wondering if Pam opened her home up to being a foster home for the paycheck.  I understand not wanting to be on the hook for hundreds of dollars of stuff, but I feel like this is whats wrong with some foster parents.  I would know as I have direct knowledge of such a thing.

I believe we have resolved this problem. Lutheran Social Services contacted DHS and learned that they had sent us a check for $485 that was not forwarded to you at the time -- probably because the caseworker you were working with left our organization unexpectedly. Lutheran Social Services will make up the difference and will reimburse you for the full amount you spent to help the young woman in our independent living program. I'm glad you brought this to our attention so that we could make sure you got the funds you were owed. I hope this will help brighten the holidays for you and your family.

I want to thank Laura Mitchell, the director at Lutheran Social Services, for working with me to resolve this situation.

Update:  DHS has agreed to reimburse me for a little over half of the total expenses.

My advise to anyone who opens their home to children in need is to get everything in writing from the organizations involved.  Although Laura Mitchell worked diligently on this situation, it should have been resolved before ever reaching her, and I may have received reimbursement for everything I was told was authorized.

Pam, this is complicated because your caseworker (Loreal) and the DHS caseworker who worked on the case at the time have both left their positions. Expenses like the ones you described are never paid for by the private foster care provider, e.g. Lutheran Social Services. They must be pre-authorized by DHS, and DHS is responsible for payment.

I understand that it is complicated.  I had an extensive conversation with the director at Lutheran Social Services, Laura Mitchell.  She said some very interesting things.

I believe you when you say you were told these expenses were pre-authorized by DHS, but we don't have any authorizations from DHS in writing. Some of the delay in settling your problem happened because some of the phone calls you made to us actually went to Lutheran Child and Family Service, which is a totally separate organization.

Someone told you wrong.  Only 1 email went to the wrong place.  Most of the phone calls went ignored as I left messages.  I did however speak with Joan Lutke on a couple of occasions.

She assured me I would be paid.  She told me to have patience as it takes awhile for DHS to reimburse.  Make note of that.

However, while speaking with Ms Mitchell, she claims Joan Lutke told her that the expenses were not authorized.  Someone is being lied to.

The messages did not reach us, and so we were unaware that your problem had not been resolved. Now that we know you have not been reimbursed, we are going to try to work this out with DHS. I can't guarantee we will be successful. The decision about whether or not to make this reimbursement will come from DHS, not Lutheran Social Services.

Ms Mitchell also wanted me to pick a number out of the air to settle, even before DHS had made a decision.

So, at the same time, Joan Lutke told me to be patient and wait for the reimbursement while she told Laura Mitchell that the expenses were not authorized.

Everyone of you involved say that you are working with DHS on this problem, yet Laura Mitchell wanted me to give her an amount I would settle for; not even waiting for DHS

She said that it wasn't all their fault, and part of the blame must go on to DHS.  That's fine, but it was absolutely NONE of my fault.  I followed every rule and guideline, yet I'm the one that this is going to affect.

I was told that I would be getting a phone call resolving this matter probably before Thanksgiving Day.  I am still waiting.

Please know that the wellbeing of the children in our care is our primary consideration, and we strive to support the foster and host parents who work directly with the children.

Pam, this is complicated because your caseworker (Loreal) and the DHS caseworker who worked on the case at the time have both left their positions. Expenses like the ones you described are never paid for by the private foster care provider, e.g. Lutheran Social Services. They must be pre-authorized by DHS, and DHS is responsible for payment. I believe you when you say you were told these expenses were pre-authorized by DHS, but we don't have any authorizations from DHS in writing. Some of the delay in settling your problem happened because some of the phone calls you made to us actually went to Lutheran Child and Family Service, which is a totally separate organization. The messages did not reach us, and so we were unaware that your problem had not been resolved. Now that we know you have not been reimbursed, we are going to try to work this out with DHS. I can't guarantee we will be successful. The decision about whether or not to make this reimbursement will come from DHS, not Lutheran Social Services. Please know that the wellbeing of the children in our care is our primary consideration, and we strive to support the foster and host parents who work directly with the children.

We are looking into this. Lutheran Social Services of Michigan values its foster and host parents very much -- you guys are unsung heroes to the children in our care. I understand how frustrating this must be to you. I will post again as soon as I have more information.

Every one of those expenses were authorized before I made a move on any of them.  If they would have said no, then I would have either ate the expense or told her we just couldn't do it.

Joan Lutke told me to be patient, it takes DHS awhile to reimburse monies.  Seems odd that I was told to be patient yet the last correspondence I received from her was, it was too late.

I will still help children in need, but it won't be through Lutheran Social Services of Michigan and I hope others will take note of my experience.

I believe the stall tactic used was to go past some sort of grace period in order to steal my money.

- Just how did they steal your money?  Did they get reimbursed and just not pass the money onto you?

One of the things they made very clear was that all expenses above and beyond normal routine would be reimbursed.

- An expense "above normal routine expenses" would be things that are UNEXPECTED such as medical bills, or in your case needing a Birth Certificate.  For a Senior in High School things such as Drivers Ed and a Cap and Gown for graduation could be seen as "normal", but at the same time I could see how that probably should be reimbursed.  However, not sure how a "Class Ring" would be considered an "expense".  While it is a very nice gesture it is not really a matter of life and death or a requirement for anything.  I would actually be a bit leery of any charity that is approving something like that as a required expense.  Especially if money is tight.

It is great that you want to help out kids in need.  Charities have hit rough times just like others.  It is possible that they did not have the money for these extras when it came time to paying you.  But that is a long way from calling a Charity a thief.  Unless you have something you are not posting and know that they got reimbursed for your expenses and just didn't pass the money onto you.