Great Lakes Wire

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) shared an update on the significant and sustained improvements made to the child welfare system. These improvements have 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 an update highlighting efforts by the state. During the court conference, Edmunds determined that the state met performance standards for six additional areas of oversight, moving these areas closer to removal from court oversight and praised MDHHS for making "tremendous progress."

Federal court monitors have tracked 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), replacing an earlier court agreement.

Many requirements in the agreement were eliminated with a stipulated order signed by Edmunds on Jan. 24 due to substantial progress made by MDHHS in those areas. The federal court monitors published their latest report covering compliance between Jan. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023. This is their first report following many requirement removals as a result of this year's stipulated order.

“MDHHS remains 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 out of 28 monitored areas and was within 10% of meeting standards in three additional areas. Key areas of progress include:

- Meeting adoption caseload standards: During this period, 88.1% of adoption workers had a caseload of no more than 15 children, improving by 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 not placed together had at least monthly visits with each other, increasing by 10% since 2021.

- Medical and mental health exams: 87.1% of children entering foster care had initial medical and mental health exams within 45 days; 80.9% had exams within 30 days—an increase of 5% and 8%, respectively, since 2021.

- Providing support for foster youth transitioning to adulthood: Of youth aged fifteen and older exiting foster care, reunification with parents, adoption or guardianship occurred for approximately half (46.8%), marking a slight increase from previous periods.

Demetrius Starling, senior deputy director of MDHHS Children’s Services Administration addressed departmental commitment towards improving child safety in Michigan.

“We continue to follow our Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda which commits the department to nation’s highest standards,” Starling said. “Working with police, judges, legislators and other partners we won’t be satisfied until Michigan is best place in America to raise kids build families.”

The Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda highlights various initiatives undertaken by MDHHS aimed at protecting children while evolving based on new research data.

For more information including stipulation agreements latest federal monitor reports visit Michigan.gov/ChildWelfareAgreement.

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