Gov. Snyder marks merger of Michigan's social services agencies

By David Eggert
Associated Press

LANSING (AP) - Merging two of Michigan's biggest agencies will help identify the root causes of why people are on government assistance and lead to improved outcomes, Gov. Rick Snyder said Tuesday in marking the launch of the Department of Health and Human Services.

He said his goal is to align programs in a smarter way with less fragmentation so the focus is on "people, not programs." As an example, he said many recipients' eligibility for public aid must be determined multiple times across multiple programs.

"Can't we simplify that?" the Republican governor told The Associated Press before an event at the new agency's Ingham County branch. "Can't we sit down the person and talk with them about what their issues are ... in a comprehensive fashion?"

Tuesday marked the second day of business for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, a 14,000-employee agency - the state's largest - made up of the former Human Services and Community Health departments.

Snyder announced the merger in his annual State of the State address in January. The GOP-led Legislature did not object, and it officially went into effect at midnight Friday.

He said his administration is analyzing various programs overseen by the new department, and consolidating many of them will require waivers from the U.S. government since federal funding is involved.

"It's still early. I've talked to them generally about the concept and I think they're open-minded," Snyder said of the Obama administration.

The two former agencies account for about $24 billion, or 46 percent, of the $52 billion state budget. The spending covers Medicaid health insurance for the poor, cash assistance, food stamps, help with energy bills and child care, child protective services and foster care.

Abby Nowiski, a foster parent from Lansing, attended the merger event and talked about difficulties that she and her husband, Dan, faced when raising foster children with mental health problems. She credited team-like collaboration among human services and mental health caseworkers in helping the couple successfully make the transition for the two brothers to get back to their birth family.

"We've seen that this can work," Nowiski said.

The merger has caused apprehension about more layoffs and cuts months after the Human Services Department issued unrelated layoff notices to about 100 employees. A House subcommittee also recently passed a preliminary budget bill assuming $2.2 million in savings through the merger.

Snyder, whose proposed budget calls for closing and consolidating Human Services offices to save $5.3 million, said the intent of the merger is not to cut the workforce but it could result in administrative jobs being converted to front-line positions.

"A lot of this is how to get more real contact with real people," he said.

Rep. Andy Schor, an East Lansing Democrat, said he has some concerns about the merger's effect on services and employees but believes issues can be resolved.

"We as a Legislature need to keep a close eye on how this is going," he said.

Ray Holman, spokesman for the UAW local that represents many Human Services workers, said: "We can't afford to lose any more front-line staff."

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Online:

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.michigan.gov/dhs.

Published: Thu, Apr 16, 2015