The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently announced the Children Trust Michigan’s Board of Directors approval of $1.28 million for four Michigan community-based organizations to support child abuse prevention programs and services.
The grants will be funded over a four-year period. Winning grant proposals were selected through a competitive bid process. Strong emphasis was placed on assuring funded initiatives are appropriately integrated into broader community plans for serving children and families.
“MDHHS is fully committed to keeping Michigan kids safe,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Children Trust Michigan provides critical funding to community-based organizations across Michigan that prevent child abuse and neglect. Their prevention efforts are a key part of MDHHS’s Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda.”
Children Trust Michigan (CTM) is a nonprofit housed within MDHHS. CTM partners with MDHHS on a variety of initiatives and projects implemented by CTM.
“It is always exciting to award critical funds for the prevention of child abuse and neglect,” said Suzanne Greenberg, CTM executive director. “Our prevention team will work closely with our new grantees to build protective factors for children and families that will make safe, healthy and happy childhoods possible for Michigan’s children.”
The four organizations receiving funding are:
• The Children’s Center, Wayne County, $320,000 for expansion of the Family Resource Center to help families meet their basic needs and Parent Cafés.
• Centro Multicultural La Familia Inc., Oakland County, $320,000 for their Opening Doors Program and Parent Cafés.
• Van Buren Intermediate School District, Van Buren County, $320,000 for Parents as Teachers Home Visiting Program.
• YMCA of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, $320,000 for Crisis Nursery, Respite Care for Parenting Persons.
With the newly funded initiatives, combined with other multi-year grant commitments and the statewide network of local councils, CTM distributed more than $2.6 million in FY24 in support of child abuse prevention programming across the 83 counties in Michigan.
The Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda, announced in 2023, includes more than 20 protocols and policies to improve the safety and well-being of Michigan children. Developed over the course of more than four years, the agenda relies on best practices in child welfare and commits the department to the nation’s highest standards. The action agenda highlights the steps MDHHS has taken and will continue to take that can be separated into five categories – prevention, intervention, stability, wellness and workforce.
To learn more about Children Trust Michigan, its efforts to end child abuse and where its programs and services, visit ChildrenTrustMichigan.org.
