The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on Tuesday shared an update on the significant and sustained improvements the department continues to make to the child welfare system. These improvements have resulted in enhanced safety for children and families since the inception of a federal lawsuit.
MDHHS appeared before Judge Nancy G. Edmunds of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan for the latest update that highlights efforts made by the state. During the court conference, Edmunds determined that the state met the performance standards for six additional areas of oversight, moving these areas closer to the removal of court oversight and praised MDHHS for making "tremendous progress."
Federal court monitors have been tracking progress since a 2008 settlement agreement following a 2006 lawsuit filed against the former Michigan Department of Human Services by Children’s Rights. In 2019, the court approved the Michigan Implementation, Sustainability and Exit Plan (MISEP) that took the place of an earlier court agreement.
Many requirements in the agreement were eliminated with a stipulated order signed by Edmunds Jan. 24. Those requirements were removed because of the substantial progress MDHHS has made in those areas. The federal court monitors published their latest update report prior to the hearing today, that covers compliance between Jan. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023. This is the first report from the monitors following the removal of many requirements as a result of the stipulated order entered earlier this year.
“MDHHS remains to committed to keeping families together safely,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “I am proud of the work we do and the progress we have made as we continue to work toward excellence in our child welfare system. We remain focused on the requirements remaining in the agreement.”
MDHHS met required performance standards in six of 28 areas monitored and were within 10% of meeting the standard in three additional areas. Key areas of progress include:
• Meeting adoption caseload standards – during the period, 88.1% of adoption workers had a caseload of no more than 15 children, an improvement of 14% since 2021.
• Keeping sibling groups together when they enter care – 80.8% of siblings who entered placement at or near the same time were placed together unless specified exceptions were met.
• Ensuring sibling visitation – 78.2% of siblings in foster care who were not placed with each other had at least monthly visits with each other. This is an increase of 10% since 2021.
• Medical and Mental Health Exams: 87.1% of children entering foster care had an initial medical and mental health exam within 45 days of the child’s entry into care and 80.9% had an exam within 30 days of entering care.
These are increases of 5% and 8% respectively since 2021.
• Providing support for foster youth transitioning to adulthood – 46.8% of youth ages 15 and older who exited foster care were reunified with their parent, adopted or were in a guardianship. This is a 1.4% increase from the previous reporting period. As a result, this requirement is eligible for immediate exit from the MISEP.
Demetrius Starling, senior deputy director of the MDHHS Children’s Services Administration, addressed the department’s commitment to improve the safety and well-being of Michigan children.
“We continue to follow our Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda, which commits the department to the nation’s highest standards,” Starling said. “Working with police, judges, legislators and other partners, we won’t be satisfied until Michigan is the best place in America to raise kids and build families.”
The Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda highlights the many initiatives the department has undertaken to protect children. The action agenda will evolve as new research and data are released to keep kids safe from harm.
To view the stipulation agreement, the latest federal court monitor report and other information, go to Michigan.gov/ChildWelfareAgreement.
MDHHS appeared before Judge Nancy G. Edmunds of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan for the latest update that highlights efforts made by the state. During the court conference, Edmunds determined that the state met the performance standards for six additional areas of oversight, moving these areas closer to the removal of court oversight and praised MDHHS for making "tremendous progress."
Federal court monitors have been tracking progress since a 2008 settlement agreement following a 2006 lawsuit filed against the former Michigan Department of Human Services by Children’s Rights. In 2019, the court approved the Michigan Implementation, Sustainability and Exit Plan (MISEP) that took the place of an earlier court agreement.
Many requirements in the agreement were eliminated with a stipulated order signed by Edmunds Jan. 24. Those requirements were removed because of the substantial progress MDHHS has made in those areas. The federal court monitors published their latest update report prior to the hearing today, that covers compliance between Jan. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023. This is the first report from the monitors following the removal of many requirements as a result of the stipulated order entered earlier this year.
“MDHHS remains to committed to keeping families together safely,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “I am proud of the work we do and the progress we have made as we continue to work toward excellence in our child welfare system. We remain focused on the requirements remaining in the agreement.”
MDHHS met required performance standards in six of 28 areas monitored and were within 10% of meeting the standard in three additional areas. Key areas of progress include:
• Meeting adoption caseload standards – during the period, 88.1% of adoption workers had a caseload of no more than 15 children, an improvement of 14% since 2021.
• Keeping sibling groups together when they enter care – 80.8% of siblings who entered placement at or near the same time were placed together unless specified exceptions were met.
• Ensuring sibling visitation – 78.2% of siblings in foster care who were not placed with each other had at least monthly visits with each other. This is an increase of 10% since 2021.
• Medical and Mental Health Exams: 87.1% of children entering foster care had an initial medical and mental health exam within 45 days of the child’s entry into care and 80.9% had an exam within 30 days of entering care.
These are increases of 5% and 8% respectively since 2021.
• Providing support for foster youth transitioning to adulthood – 46.8% of youth ages 15 and older who exited foster care were reunified with their parent, adopted or were in a guardianship. This is a 1.4% increase from the previous reporting period. As a result, this requirement is eligible for immediate exit from the MISEP.
Demetrius Starling, senior deputy director of the MDHHS Children’s Services Administration, addressed the department’s commitment to improve the safety and well-being of Michigan children.
“We continue to follow our Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda, which commits the department to the nation’s highest standards,” Starling said. “Working with police, judges, legislators and other partners, we won’t be satisfied until Michigan is the best place in America to raise kids and build families.”
The Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda highlights the many initiatives the department has undertaken to protect children. The action agenda will evolve as new research and data are released to keep kids safe from harm.
To view the stipulation agreement, the latest federal court monitor report and other information, go to Michigan.gov/ChildWelfareAgreement.
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