Michele Calloway: One Woman’s Lifelong Commitment to Fostering

For more than four decades, Michele Calloway has served as a foster parent through Samaritas. She is a shining example of the ideal caregiver, who knows how to nurture kids whose needs often extend far beyond what Michigan’s systems can support.

One of those children was welcomed into her home at age five, just after his birthday at the beginning of the pandemic. By that point, Brian had already experienced multiple placements and significant trauma. As his sixth, foster parent, Calloway, had her hands full and at times struggled with finding supportive services to help him thrive.

“Brian had a lot of behavioral and emotional challenges,” Calloway said. “And some of that came from being moved so many times.”

During those years, she worked closely with doctors, schools, and child welfare staff to address his behavioral health and educational needs. While services were often difficult to secure in Wayne County, she persisted, advocating for him in schools, coordinating care with doctors, and creating structure at home. Medication helped address some of his needs.

As Brian’s needs grew, adoption recruiters identified a family in Kent County, where additional resources were available. Calloway supported the transition, meeting the family regularly and helping prepare both the child and his future parents. Even after the Legacy Adoption Services (LAS), she has remained involved, offering guidance and staying connected through visits and communication.

“I still hear from his parents,” said Michele. “They’ll check in when he’s having some trouble and ask me what has worked in the past. Or they’ll just let me know how he’s doing and how he’s doing with activities like soccer, which he loves.”

Samaritas Foster Parent Michele Calloway is pictured on the right with her good friend.

That ongoing connection reflects Calloway’s broader role in Detroit’s foster care community. She stays in touch with roughly 20 foster families across Wayne County and metro-Detroit, offering practical guidance and encouragement as they navigate schools, mental health services, and day-to-day challenges.

However, she remains optimistic that the steady influence of loving adults on foster kids, especially those affected by generational cycles of poverty, can be a lifesaver. After decades of doing this work, Calloway acknowledges that the system has become more complex, but that nurturing children remains simple.

“Kids don’t need perfection,” she said. “They need people who show up, who keep showing up, and who believe they’re worth the effort. She added, “The work has changed, but the need for stability has not. “Kids need consistency,” she said. “And foster parents need support just as much as the children do.”

With more people like Michele in the world, neighborhoods in Wayne County and beyond can transform into loving communities for all. Slowing down and walking alongside people who need kindness, respect, and decency is all it takes.