Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has announced the approval of $1.28 million in grants by Children Trust Michigan's Board of Directors. The funds are designated for four community-based organizations in Michigan to support programs aimed at preventing child abuse.

The grants will be distributed over a four-year period, with recipients selected through a competitive bidding process. Emphasis was placed on ensuring that funded initiatives align with broader community plans for serving children and families.

"MDHHS is fully committed to keeping Michigan kids safe," stated 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), a nonprofit within MDHHS, collaborates on various initiatives to combat child abuse. Suzanne Greenberg, CTM executive director, expressed enthusiasm about the funding: "It is always exciting to award critical funds for the prevention of child abuse and neglect," she said. "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 organizations receiving funding include:

- The Children’s Center in Wayne County: $320,000 for expanding the Family Resource Center.

- Centro Multicultural La Familia Inc. in Oakland County: $320,000 for their Opening Doors Program.

- Van Buren Intermediate School District in Van Buren County: $320,000 for the Parents as Teachers Home Visiting Program.

- YMCA of Kalamazoo in Kalamazoo County: $320,000 for Crisis Nursery and Respite Care services.

These newly funded initiatives contribute to more than $2.6 million distributed by CTM in FY24 across all 83 counties in Michigan.

The Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda, launched in 2023, includes over 20 protocols designed to enhance the safety and well-being of children in Michigan. Developed over more than four years, it commits MDHHS to high standards in child welfare across five categories: prevention, intervention, stability, wellness, and workforce.

For more information about Children Trust Michigan's efforts against child abuse or its programs and services visit ChildrenTrustMichigan.org.