LANSING, Mich. (AP) &dmash; Michigan's strained foster care system might get some support from the private sector under a plan soon to be introduced in the state Legislature.

The bills outlined Tuesday by two Republican lawmakers would create a state foster care advisory board to propose improvements and help educate people about how they can help support the system. The panel also would help foster children who are getting older and soon will be on their own without family support to transition out of the system.

The plan would create a trust fund that would be supported by charitable donations, including a checkoff option on state income tax forms.

Department of Human Services spokeswoman Maureen Sorbet said Tuesday that lawmakers shared the concept with department representatives last week and they are willing to look at the proposal.

Last month, the Department of Human Services announced a 60-member task force aimed at improving Michigan child welfare systems. The plan discussed Tuesday is more narrowly tailored to foster care.

"A goal is to educate the public on the various ways to serve in foster care," said Rep. Craig DeRoche of Novi, the House's highest-ranking Republican and a supporter of the upcoming legislation. "These proposals are simply a way to get more external support for the system."

The state has 6,611 licensed foster homes. Agencies are looking to recruit more foster parents. But there are other ways for the public to help the foster care system, lawmakers said. The advisory panel — whose members would include leaders of various state departments and the chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court — would help identify and promote those options.

The state typically has had between 18,000 and 19,000 children in the foster care system at any one time in the past decade.

Several efforts have been made over the years to try and help the state's foster care system. Republicans who are introducing the latest proposals say the measures aren't political, and they commended efforts already under way to improve the system from the administration of Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm. A Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Dudley Spade of Tipton, will sponsor one of the upcoming bills.

Lawmakers said the foster care issue has become so overwhelming that the private sector must be tapped to help.

"Many have wisdom and insight on how to improve the system," said Sen. Bill Hardiman, R-Kentwood, chairman of the Senate Families and Human Services Committee. "Working together, we will be able to do that."