In The News
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Child Welfare Task Force Cites Progress, Announces New Focus
November 5, 2025 | Child Welfare Improvement Task Force
Michigan has made significant progress in keeping more vulnerable children with family members rather than with non-relative foster parents, the Michigan Child Welfare Improvement Task Force says.
And there have been dramatic reductions in children living in congregate care institutions, a placement of last resort that the task force says has been overused to the detriment of children.
Those were two of the task force’s key goals after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) established it in 2020. The task force announced it has revised its charge statement and is now turning its attention to supporting a “Two-Generation Approach” designed to holistically help both children and families thrive.
“I am proud of the committee’s work, and everyone’s excited about the direction we’re going, and the two-generation approach,” said Wayne County Circuit Judge Karen Braxton, who chairs the task force. “I’m excited about the impact that we can have not just in Michigan, but also becoming national leaders.”
The task force discussed progress, challenges and next steps at its Oct. 31 meeting at the MPHI offices in Okemos. MPHI is partnering with the MDHHS to lead the project.
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Foster Kids Transitioning into Independent Adults Get New Home
September 23, 2025 | Fox2 Detroit | Erica Francis
This is a powerful story of two nonprofits working together to help foster youth transition into independent adulthood.
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Michigan must beef up mental health services for kids under court settlement
MAY 28, 2025 | BridgeMichigan | Robin Erb
A settlement in a federal lawsuit would force the state to expand mental health services for children who receive intensive treatment under Medicaid, the largest payer of those services in the state.
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Michigan foster care agencies win legal battle over rate dispute
MARCH 11, 2025 | Mlive By Gus Burns | fburns@mlive.com
LANSING, MI -- Private foster care agencies won a legal battle with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services over a rate dispute.
The state must pay a daily rate of $60.20, per child, to private agencies, Court of Claims Judge Sima G. Patel said in her March 4 opinion.
MDHHS previously agreed to the amount in its 2025 budget plan, but more than 20 private foster care agencies filed a lawsuit when MDHHS attempted to revise the terms.
MDHHS, according to court records, asked agencies to sign a contract with a daily rate of $54.18. The agencies could earn the full daily amount of $60.20 by reaching certain incentive benchmarks.
To receive the full rate, agencies would have been required to ensure at least 85% siblings in foster care were able to see each other monthly and at least
95% of all children under their supervision would receive face-to-face meeting with their assigned worker each month.
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‘Reunification Day’ Celebrates Putting Families Back Together
Wayne County hosts program to honor reunified families and child welfare professionals
DETROIT, MI, June 28, 2024 – Families, court officials, and child welfare professionals gathered at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center yesterday for the 7th Annual Michigan Reunification Day, which celebrates the efforts of parents reuniting with their children in foster care. The event featured Michigan Supreme Court Justices Megan K. Cavanagh and Kyra H. Bolden, who serve as co-liaisons on child welfare matters, as well as retired Justice Maura D. Corrigan, who formerly served as director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
“Observing the remarkable transformations in children and families through our reunification programs has been a true highlight of my work in the judiciary,” said Justice Cavanagh. “Reuniting families is the pinnacle of court-community engagement, as our judiciary actively contributes to making families whole, once again.”