Reform Initiative at the DHS

The Michigan Department of Human Services has announced a reform initiative that it says will positively impact child welfare services across the state, specifically foster care and adoption services. The fundamental change will ensure that just one agency provider will manage the case for a child from beginning to end, with oversight, and be held accountable for the outcome of that child’s case. The current system is based on a daily rate of reimbursement by the state and counties to private charitable organizations for children in care. It’s a rate preset regardless of the specific and unique needs of the child and is based on the number of days in care. Governor Snyder says under the new system, the funding level for each child is based on the desired outcome and the unique circumstances involved with getting to that successfully. DHS director Maura Corrigan calls the reform historic and most welcome.