The Regional Foster Care Initiative is the brainchild of Hon. Nancy Kida, retired Benzie County Judge.
 
One of a judge's most difficult tasks is separating children from their birth families.  When contact is continued after such separation, it is often limited to 1-3 hours  a week.  The initiative is a 5-county pilot program that seeks to bring foster families and birth families together under supervision for up to 15-20 hours a week .  This is a collaborative effort involving the nonprofit Northern Family Intervention Services, the State of Michigan and private practitioners.  The goal is to serve 75 families in the three years of the project, with a focus on children aged 4 and under.