Great Lakes Wire

A recent state audit reveals substantial progress in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) handling of child abuse allegations, according to Director Elizabeth Hertel. The Office of the Auditor General's (OAG) update to a 2018 audit indicates that MDHHS has fully or partially complied with 15 out of 17 findings, achieving an 88% success rate.

“These findings confirm our focus and fuel our resolve,” Hertel stated. “We welcome the opportunity and responsibility to work with the legislature, law enforcement, judges, and other partners to transform Michigan’s child welfare system into a national model for competence and caring.”

The audit underscores significant reforms at MDHHS. Independent monitors have reported nearly 100% compliance in timely staffing of child abuse investigations. This led Judge Nancy G. Edmunds of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to sign an order modifying the Modified Implementation, Sustainability, and Exit Plan (MISEP), reducing remaining requirements for court oversight.

Judge Edmunds acknowledged MDHHS's "tremendous progress" during a recent court conference, noting that performance standards were met in six additional areas.

In 2018, a critical OAG report highlighted systemic deficiencies within Children’s Protective Services (CPS), prompting then-Governor Rick Snyder to pledge corrective action. The agency has since improved significantly under federal court oversight since 2008.

Progress is evident across various metrics:

- Supervisory reviews of CPS investigation activities increased from 82% in 2018 to 94%.

- Central Registry clearance compliance rose from 28% to 86%.

- Background reviews improved from 48% to 73%.

- Documentation with mandated reporters jumped from 31% to 90%.

- Face-to-face contact with alleged victims was made within required timeframes in 95% of cases reviewed by OAG.

- Investigative performance standards exceeded those required by other jurisdictions like Washington, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.

Despite these improvements, MDHHS expressed concerns over parts of the audit focusing on procedural details rather than substantive results. Hertel emphasized that holding MDHHS accountable solely based on administrative standards does not serve Michigan residents well.

“We aren’t perfect. We have more work to do,” Hertel said. “But it’s a disservice to the people of Michigan to hold MDHHS accountable to disconnected administrative standards rather than our ability to keep kids safe and families together.”

MDHHS continues its mission through initiatives such as:

- Investing millions in Family Resource Centers.

- Creating Family Impact Teams.

- Developing firearm safety protocols.

- Expanding home visits by professionals.

- Implementing a vulnerable child protocol.

- Analyzing data with Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

- Enacting Wyatt’s Law for better caregiver background checks.

Intervention efforts include developing communication tools for caseworkers and supporting policy changes for increased child safety through legislative partnerships.

“MDHHS is devoted to an important and challenging mission: Keeping kids safe and families together,” Hertel reiterated. “We won’t be satisfied until Michigan is the best place in America to raise kids and build families.”

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