Hands Across The Water, Inc.

10/02/2026

We're so excited to announce that yesterday marked the official launch of our family preservation/reunification services work in Wayne County!

Thanks to the State of Michigan HATW will be working with Wayne County families at risk of separation or who are coming back together after being separated using a model known as MiFamily Together, providing flexibility and access to different services depending on their needs.

Our new office space in Livonia is still a work in progress, but it's not stopping our team from putting their best feet collectively forward in service of our vision of a community where every child is valued and has a safe home and loving family where they can thrive!

We still have a few positions to fill: if you know someone who is passionate about this work, send them to bit.ly/HATWjobs to read more about what we're looking for!

09/25/2026

📣 New Position Posted! 📣

We're looking for a full-time Human Resources Assistant to work out of our new Livonia location, traveling to the Ann Arbor office occasionally as needed, and supporting our entire team!

Check out the posting at https://bit.ly/HATWjobs and send it to anyone you know who has a passion for supporting children and families!

09/12/2026

Wow! We did it! Team HATW went Over the Edge with Friends In Deed today, and had a *great* time taking this leap! Thanks to everyone who supported our fundraising effort, those who came out to cheer us on, and of course to Friends In Deed for giving us this opportunity!

There's still time to donate at https://bit.ly/HATW26OTE

09/11/2026

During the month of September we celebrate the grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, family friends, and other caring adults who step up when a child needs a safe, loving place to call home.

Kinship caregivers provide stability, connection, comfort, and the reassurance that children who cannot safely remain with their parents are surrounded by people who care about their wellbeing. Maintaining a connection with families and familiar communities goes a long way to easing the trauma of separation.

Thanks to all the kinship caregivers stepping up for the children in their lives!

09/11/2026

🧗‍♀️ TWO DAYS. TWO DAYS! 🧗‍♂️

The rappellers are getting ready. The nerves are kicking in. The excitement is REAL.

On Saturday, these brave community members will climb to the top of Hill Hall and rappel down to raise money for Friends In Deed, Educate Youth, and Hands Across The Water.

We’ve watched our rappellers fundraise, recruit friends and family, take on challenges, and get ready for the big day.

Now it’s almost time.

👏 Help us cheer them on!

And remember: for just $5, you can purchase a shout-out and get a few minutes on the microphone to cheer for your favorite rappeller while they’re on the wall.

Every shout-out purchase also enters you into our prize drawing—with gift certificates from local restaurants up for grabs! 🎉

Who are YOU coming to cheer for?

Tag them below. 👇

📍 EMU Hill Hall
📅 Saturday, September 12
⏰ Public rappels begin at 9 AM

www.zeffy.com/en-US/peer-to-peer/over-the-edge--2026

09/10/2026

Laron and Melanie are siblings looking to be placed for adoption together: help us find them their forever family!

Laron is 7 and his sister is 13, and we would be happy to discuss their needs with a family interested in waiting child adoption. Learn more at https://bit.ly/HATWwca or call us at 734-477-0135.

09/09/2026

The big day is almost here: this Saturday, Sept. 12 Team HATW is going Over the Edge! We now know our team is scheduled at 10 a.m. : come cheer us on at EMU's Hill Hall, and/or support our rappelling team at https://bit.ly/HATW26OTE

Your gifts support our work with vulnerable children and families, including our expansion into family preservation starting this fall!

09/05/2026

We've still got positions to fill for our new family preservation program (MiFamily Together) that launches October 1, as well as positions available in our foster care program. Interested in helping make our vision of a community where every child is valued and has a safe home and loving family where they can thrive a reality? Check out open position descriptions at https://bit.ly/HATWjobs

09/04/2026

Summer has come to an end, and with it, our time with our most recent behavioral health intern, Danielle Lambert (pictured center with staff therapists Laura Rutkowski and Laura VanZomeren)! Danielle, we loved having you as part of the team: our staff and clients will miss you, but we wish you the best of luck in Chicago as you begin your behavioral health career!

09/03/2026

Our Katie Page Sander was interviewed for this article, which highlights the need not only for licensed foster homes, but for prevention services that will help keep families together and reduce the number of youth in foster care nationwide.

There is a profound need for more licensed homes to meet even temporary placement needs: nationwide there are only 57 licensed homes for every 100 children in foster care.

“In my 30 years working in child welfare, I have never witnessed a time when the families available either equal or outnumber the children we have who need a home. If in five years we are able to achieve that, that would be revolutionary.”

Michigan has joined all 49 other states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico in a new federal initiative designed to improve the lives of children in foster care by increasing the number of licensed foster homes and strengthening support for families before crises lead to foster care placement. The U....