MEMBER BENEFITS
For more than 50 years, the Michigan Federation for Children and Families has brought together private, nonprofit agencies serving children, youth, and families across the state. Membership connects your agency to a strong advocacy voice in Lansing, a statewide network of peers, and practical resources that help you strengthen your operations and serve your community.
Explore the benefits below to see how the Federation supports member agencies and their staff.
ADVOCACY
A Collective, Expert Voice: For more than 50 years, the Federation has represented members in shaping federal, state, and local public policy, both legislatively and administratively.
Member-Driven Priorities: Our annual Advocacy and Policy Priorities are built on input from you and your member colleagues, so our work reflects the issues that matter most to your agency.
Position Papers: Developed with member input and guidance, our position papers bring real-world experience and perspective to issues of critical importance.
Timely Legislative Updates: When the Michigan Legislature and U.S. Congress are in session, member executives receive timely coverage of proposed and pending legislation and policies that affect their work.
Relationships with Policymakers: The Federation builds strong relationships with elected officials and their staff, and supports members in advocating with legislators and government agencies at the local level.
Professional Lobbying Representation: The Federation works on your behalf with Public Affairs Associates (PAA), a highly respected lobbying firm with expertise in direct advocacy, public policy development, and issues management.
Executive Legislative and Advocacy Day: Join fellow members at the Capitol each year to meet with key legislators and raise awareness of the Federation’s policy and budget priorities.
State Budget Advocacy: We monitor the state budget closely and advocate throughout the appropriations process for the resources member agencies need to serve children, youth, and families.
Legislative Monitoring: We analyze and track state and federal legislation affecting the human services delivery system, making sure member agencies have a voice in policy development and implementation.
Muster and Action Alerts: Through Muster, our digital advocacy platform, members can easily contact federal and state elected officials, and our Action Alerts make it quick to respond when timing matters most.
NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATION
Member Interest Networks (MINs): Connect with peers who do the work you do. MINs bring together staff from member agencies across administrative and agency operations as well as program and service areas, giving every employee at your agency a place to share ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and learn from colleagues statewide.
Members-Only Web Portal: Register for meetings and events, manage invoices for events and dues, and find past member communications and resources, all in one place.
Network Exchange Hub: Tap into the collective knowledge of the network. This members-only Dropbox space houses colleague question responses, agency policies, sample job descriptions, templates, and other practical tools you can put to use right away.
Statewide Data Collection: Topic-specific data gathered from members informs the Federation’s position papers and strengthens our advocacy on your behalf.
Biennial Compensation Survey: Benchmark your agency with real data, including hourly wages across 79 job categories from 50 agencies statewide, plus employee benefits and staff retention and turnover rates.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Learning Opportunities Year-Round: The Federation offers professional development events throughout the year on the topics, skills, and issues that matter most to members, with Social Work Continuing Education Credits available when appropriate.
Member Discounts on Events: Member agencies receive discounted rates for all Federation events, including the Annual Spring Human Resources Training Seminar and the Annual Fall Senior Management Conference.
Free Protective Factors Training: Supported by grant funding, this training is offered free of charge to Michigan child welfare and family preservation professionals throughout the year. Trainers are certified by the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance to deliver “Bringing the Protective Factors Framework to Life in Your Work.”
RESOURCES AND SAVINGS
MFCF Legal Trust Fund
Legal Expertise When You Need It: Established in 2018, the MFCF Legal Trust Fund gives member agencies access to expertise on the legal challenges private provider agencies face.
Accreditation and Dues Discounts
25% Off COA Accreditation Fees: Through the Federation’s membership in NOSAC, the National Organization of State Associations for Children, member agencies have saved on Council on Accreditation fees since 2007, for both new accreditations and renewals. When going through the accreditation process, select “NOSAC” from the Network Champions drop-down list to receive the discount. Your agency can save thousands of dollars.
10% Off CWLA Dues: Since 2012, member agencies in good standing have received a discount on Child Welfare League of America dues through the Federation’s CWLA and NOSAC memberships.
Promotion
Website Visibility: Your agency’s website is linked directly from michfed.org, helping families, partners, and professionals find you.
Free Job Postings: Post your agency’s job openings on michfed.org at no cost and reach candidates already connected to Michigan’s child and family services field.
Corporate Sponsor Resources: Our Corporate Sponsors support the Federation and its members through annual contributions, resources that help with agency operations, and support of conferences and events throughout the year. Members can take advantage of these offerings:
BHS Insurance (sponsor since 2003): A complimentary employee handbook audit and analysis with recommendations, a $3,000 value, for agencies joining the Federation and current members who are BHS clients (certain rules apply).
CG Financial Services (sponsor since 2014): A free financial planning meeting and retirement plan benchmark.
Gallagher (sponsor since 2019): No-cost reviews of employee handbooks and risk management policies, plus forensic contract reviews.
eNoble (new in 2026): A 30-day trial of CAP Navigator and a free AI Readiness Consultation.
Marsh Agency (new in 2026): A complimentary alternative risk readiness assessment and cyber assessment.
MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
FULL MEMBERSHIP
is open to private nonprofit child and family service agencies, statewide or regional agencies responsible for coordination of services of private nonprofit child and family service agencies and agencies operated as subdivisions or branches of a national, regional, or statewide administered child and family service agency in Michigan.
AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP
is open to statewide, regional and local private nonprofit associations, educational institutions and organizations that are organized to promote public and private nonprofit policies and services that benefit children and families, whose members are not otherwise eligible for full membership in the Federation.
Contact Us About Membership
We’d love to welcome your agency to the Federation. Whether you’re ready to apply or just want to learn more about how membership can support your work, we’re happy to talk through your questions.
Contact Jenny Crichton, Director of Member Relations and Events, at jenny@michfed.org.
