Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel recently participated in a roundtable discussion in Macomb County to discuss the department's Family Impact Teams (FIT). The initiative, part of the Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda, was launched in August 2023. It aims to keep children at risk of neglect safely in their homes by providing families with essential services like food and housing assistance, Medicaid programs, and gas cards.

Elizabeth Hertel stated, “I’m proud of the work MDHHS is doing to ensure families are connected to department programs that can help meet their basic needs.” She emphasized that economic support can help children remain with their parents instead of entering foster care. For those already in foster care, these supports can contribute to a safer environment as efforts are made to reunify them with their families.

The FIT program enhances collaboration between MDHHS’s Economic Stability Administration and its Children’s Services Administration. This partnership focuses on public benefits such as food assistance and Medicaid while also protecting children and supporting their families.

Family resource specialists from MDHHS engage directly with families through FIT. They assess eligibility for assistance programs and refer families to local agencies for additional resources. Since its inception, FIT has served over 4,100 families across 23 counties. In Macomb County alone, more than 215 families have benefited from the program.