The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) appeared before Judge Nancy G. Edmunds last week in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to discuss the latest report under its Modified Settlement Agree-
ment with Children’s Rights, Inc.
“Protecting children is the most important work we do and I know that everyone involved has a strong... commitment to improve health and safety outcomes as quickly as possible,” said Nick Lyon, MDHHS director.
Because there is a lag, the reports serve as a snapshot in time and offer a retrospective rather than a prospective view of Michigan’s child welfare system. All parties acknowledged this reporting cycle differed from the previous five under the agreement that took effect in 2011, since it covers the period that includes Michigan’s launch of the Michigan Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System, a federally-mandated data system that was required under the federal oversight of Michigan’s child welfare system.
While Michigan has implemented its system the most seamlessly of any state to date, there have been challenges.
According to Steve Yager, who leads Michigan’s child welfare programs, it has been a very big undertaking and the state’s data team is working hard to fix identified problems as quickly as possible as well as implement enhancements.
“We know it has been particularly frustrating for staff...,” said Yager. “We are confident we have continued to improve safety outcomes for children and look forward to a vastly improved data system that can demonstrate this progress beyond a doubt.”
“I applaud the state for everything you are doing,” said Judge Edmunds. She noted that the department has made phenomenal progress and spoke of her expectation that discussions between the parties, scheduled for May, will lead to ending supervision in some areas once the data are available to support that.
Michigan’s child welfare system has been under federal oversight since 2008, as the result of a lawsuit filed by New York-based Children’s Rights. The agreement was modified to be more outcomes-based and less about bureaucracy and procedure. This is the sixth monitoring report to be filed.
Attorneys representing MDHHS highlighted the department’s continued efforts to improve safety for all children in the system and underscored recent improvements to the data system, noting that the next reporting cycle would include more data proofs of compliance.
Lyon said the department is looking forward to the May meeting where, in essence the parties will work together on modifications to the agreement.
To view the full report other information, visit: www.michigan.gov/ChildWelfareAgreement.
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