For more than 65 years, Guiding Harbor has been a pillar of hope and light for children in foster care throughout southeast Michigan.

“Guiding Harbor uses the tagline ‘Foster Care with a Heart’ because it captures the essence of who we are,” said CEO Jennifer Trotter. “At Guiding Harbor, our work is grounded in compassion, dignity and a belief in the power of human connection. We go beyond providing services – we lead with heart. Every decision, every relationship and every act of care is rooted in empathy and a deep respect for the people we serve. It's not just foster care, it’s foster care that heals, uplifts and transforms.”

The nonprofit provides guidance, stability and resources children need to heal and thrive, whether it’s finding a forever family or helping young adults transition to independence.

Guiding Harbor offers a full continuum of services for children and teens in foster care in Wayne County and beyond, including foster care case management, residential programs for girls and independent living services.

“The impact of Guiding Harbor is seen in the quiet victories: a smile after years of silence, a graduation that once seemed impossible, a family reunited,” Trotter said. “These are the milestones of transformation we foster.”

When kids enter foster care, it’s because they cannot be safely cared for at home. The kids are placed temporarily with a foster home or relative while their parents work to get the children back. Approximately 50 percent of children in care return home, Trotter said.

If returning home is not possible the children become legally free for adoption. Guiding Harbor helps connect kids in foster care to families that want to give them a permanent home.

Currently there are approximately 10,000 kids in foster care.

Additionally, Guiding Harbor provides trauma-informed residential care for girls who have experienced trauma and have difficulty managing their emotions and mental health.

Since its inception in 1958, the program has successfully served over 1,000 adolescent females, providing them with mental healthcare, psychiatric services, medical care, education support, social and emotional skill building, independent living skills and more.

Through a highly concentrated and comprehensive individualized treatment program, each girl receives therapy, structure and compassion to help them heal and grow.

Guiding Harbor also offers independent living services, like life skills training, housing assistance and ongoing mentorship for youth ages 16 and older as they transition out of the foster care system and into adulthood.

“If kids don’t get support as they exit the system, there can be increased incarceration, unwanted pregnancy, drug use, mental health problems and homelessness. Our independent living services are there to meet that need and reduce those risks,” Trotter said.

With thousands of children in foster care across Wayne County, the need for safe, loving support has never been more urgent. Every child deserves stability and hope and our community has the power to provide it. Whether by becoming a foster parent, volunteering time, making a gift or simply sharing our mission, each action brings us closer to changing a child’s future.

Guiding Harbor will be hosting its 40th Annual Auction on November 8, 2025, from 6-10 p.m. at Diamondback Music Hall in Van Buren Township.

“Our Diamonds and Denim event isn’t just a celebration, it’s a powerful opportunity to transform the lives of children in foster care,” Trotter said. “Every dollar raised will directly strengthen the critical services and safe support they depend on.”

With community support, Guiding Harbor can continue to provide support to children who need it most, right here in Canton.

For more information, visit www.guidingharbor.org or call (734) 697-7242.