Introduction to the Chippewa County Family Project

In Michigan, there are over 13,000 children in foster care and over 300 children in need of an adoptive family. Unfortunately, this number is steadily increasing across the State of Michigan, specifically within the Eastern Upper Peninsula region. With the growing rates in foster care, many of the cases due to teen homelessness, a group of community members from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan envisioned building a place for our children to call “home.” This vision soon turned into a reality as
an organizational name was established, Chippewa County Family Project (CCFP).

In 2016, CCFP implemented a Board of Directors, Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, and a granted a 501c3 Non-profit status. Over the years, CCFP has gained strong community support toward the mission which was demonstrated by community volunteer efforts, donations, and business sponsorships. After 3 years of preparation and hard work, CCFP began the construction of a facility located at 689 E 3 Mile Rd. Sault Ste. Marie, MI.  In June of 2020, CCFP announced the completion of the
construction and the naming of the facility, Arfstrom Faunt Teen Home, named after Robert Arfstrom and Sharon Faunt. Arfstrom and Faunt have demonstrated passion and commitment toward CCFP efforts to make what was once a vision into a reality. In the timeframe after completion of construction, the State of Michigan updated rules and regulations which required additional tasks in opening a facility of this type. With the help of several community members, CCFP was approved for CARF Accreditation and received SOM DCWL approval to open. On October 5, 2022, the Arfstrom Faunt Teen Home accepted the first resident. The Arfstrom Faunt Teen “home” was not created to be the traditional institutionalized care but a stable and nurtured environment for teens to reintegrate into society. CCFP strives to not only provide the basic needs of a safe and healthy home but ensure that all residents will be reaching their full potential emotionally, educationally, and physically. CCFP will ensure 24-hour supportive staff are available who can provide a safe and nurturing home. The primary goal of CCFP is to provide an adolescent with a person-centered treatment program then after successful completion of the program we transition that adolescent to parents/guardians, adoption, independent living, or another program type.