Michelle Dulaney

PAC Member

Van Buren County, Michigan

Michelle has over 19 years of experience teaching teens and has fostered more than 130 children, ranging from infancy to 18 years old. She and her family adopted a sibling set of three and have been fostering since 2010, including working with refugee children. Michelle has been a TIP trainer for over 8 years and a Parent Support Partner (PSP) for the past year.

Michelle’s personal experience has deeply shaped her work. When their 17-year-old son, who joined their family at age 4, faced PTSD challenges at age 16, Michelle encountered significant barriers in accessing mental health care. This struggle has fueled her passion for helping others navigate Michigan’s care gaps. As a PSP, she advocates for families dealing with trauma and mental health issues.

Michelle founded *Heart for Home*, a foster care respite services organization in Kalamazoo, serving 19 counties in West Michigan. Her mission is to support foster families, helping them continue their vital work of nurturing children in need.

With her background in both teaching and foster care, Michelle brings a unique perspective to supporting families. As a Michigander, she is dedicated to advocating for systemic changes to address the gaps in care affecting families across the state. Above all, she believes in the power of listening and walking alongside others in their darkest hours, just as she was supported during her own family's challenges.