DHS audit focuses on funding sources, not misuse or misspending

A routine audit by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) made sensational headlines recently.

In reality, the audit questioned how DHS spent $163 million – or about 2.5 percent of the $6.5 billion in federal funding we received in the 2007 and 2008 fiscal years.

The audit does not say DHS misused the money, and it certainly does not say we misspent it.

What it does is point out areas within DHS where auditors felt we either should have used a different portion of the federal money to fund a program, where we should improve our internal processes and, yes, where there’s room for improvement.

Let me be perfectly clear: DHS used all of that money to help people in need.

Michigan Department of Human Services’ 10,000 employees are charged with providing services to millions of state residents – from cradle to grave.

Our department educates new parents and caregivers on how to put babies to sleep (on their backs, alone in a crib with just a tight-fitting sheet) and helps families pay for their loved ones’ burials. We help people pay for food, get medical coverage and cover emergencies like avoiding a heat shut off.

The largest areas the auditors questioned was about $155 million used to fund college scholarships for low-income youths under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and which public dollars we used as matching money to receive additional federal funds.

DHS disagrees with the auditors’ interpretation of federal guidelines that cover those two areas. We based our decisions on federal publications and other states’ practices; and also consulted with an independent expert, who advised us we handled these two areas properly.

The disagreement is over a definition. It’s not an allegation of misspent dollars or violations.

The AOG report also questioned about $3,000 in the child day care program, which helps working parents pay for child care. The AOG had already addressed this issue in a previous audit and DHS has taken steps to correct the issues raised.

That includes a new payment system with new checks and balances, such as requiring both parents and providers to report the hours the provider worked and more internal case reviews to help identify common errors and improve accuracy.

We cooperated fully with the OAG during the process and received the audit in the spirit in which it is created: as a tool to make sure we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars. We support the process and believe it is necessary and right to hold us accountable for the use of these federal dollars.

As soon as auditors pointed out areas where we could shore up our programs and practices, we either made changes or have specific plans in place to implement their recommendations.

We remain committed to our mission to protect the state’s vulnerable children, adults and families, while also ensuring we remain fiscally responsible.

Budget Cuts Equal People Cuts

With all the talk of Michigan’s budget trouble and proposed cuts, it’s important not to forget that behind every one of the state’s budget cuts is a person — a person who can least afford to lose even a portion of the state’s assistance programs.

It’s no secret that Michigan’s budget process is particularly painful this year. There’s a $2.8-billion hole to plug for Fiscal Year 2010, which is right around the corner.

There’s not enough money to go around, and legislators are being forced to make some tough choices.

But every single one of the proposed cuts will hurt somebody. No one knows better about hurting than the people coming to our Michigan Department of Human Services offices.

We’re seeing unprecedented numbers of people come to us for help. Just last month, almost 1.6 million people got food assistance, more than 1.7 million received Medicaid benefits, and our Child Protective Services workers investigated 5,814 allegations of abuse. We’ve been busy, to say the least!

The cuts proposed by Michigan legislative leadership would severely affect our ability to meet these needs. What’s at risk? Our friends, family, and neighbors won’t be able to meet their most basic needs.

One proposal calls for a $169-million cut that includes slashing the number of foster care workers and the staff at DHS who help all of those people who come to us when they’ve lost their job, need medical assistance or just plain can’t feed their family. This cut would drastically hurt the people we help everyday.

Michigan DHS offices are full of families – including children and the elderly – needing assistance. Our workers’ caseloads are steadily increasing, and processing time is steadily increasing as well. We do not need fewer workers, we need more workers in order to ensure the safety net can protect vulnerable children, adults and families.

The proposal also calls for cutting the program that helps working parents pay for child care. We know there’s a simple formula to get low-income people back to work: There must be jobs, transportation and affordable daycare.

Cutting daycare assistance would severely jeopardize low-income parents’ ability to work and compromises the safety and well-being of children. We must not go back to the days before subsidized day care for low income people, when children were left at home alone.

The proposal also calls for cutting the state disability assistance program, which helps people who are disabled and the elderly.

These cuts are too large, too deep and too damaging to the people of Michigan.  Undermining the protection of vulnerable children and adults will only hurt our state further

Please contact your state legislators and tell them to keep the safety net intact.

You can also contact your local United Way, community action agency and social service organizations;  share your concerns about the proposed human services cuts and ask them what you can do to assist them in preventing these cuts from happening.

Thank you for your help in this most challenging time.

Providing Healthy Food to all, Regardless of Socioeconomic Status

Starting in June, Northwest Detroit Farmers Markets began accepting electronic benefit transfer cards, known as bridge cards.  This has allowed Michigan residents that receive food stamps to now be able to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables that are not offered at grocery stores.

Dozens of markets across the state have been approved this year to accept food stamps, a total of 29 markets in Michigan alone.  Michigan hosts the largest number of vendors in the Midwest.

Residents like Denise Hicks, who relies on food stamps for her groceries, could only spare a few dollars for fresh fruits and vegetables for her children at the markets before markets accepted food stamp dollars.  Now that Detroit Farmers Markets accepts bridge cards, Hicks can spend her food stamp allocation on fresh produce and save her disposable income for bills, while providing healthier meals for her family.

Record numbers of families crossing the poverty line and are becoming dependent on state welfare. And with the food stamp dollars have a multiplier effect on economic growth; Michigan farmers participating in this movement will benefit, as well as local economies all across the state.

With this growing trend in Michigan, thousands of Michigan households are now able to enjoy locally-grown fresh foods.  This is good news for our state and I urge other markets to follow in other footsteps.

Michigan Creates Program to Help Eliminate Senior Abuse

Elderly abuse has increased 40 percent since 2008 with an astonishing estimate of 73,000 Michigan seniors being abused each year.  In times of economic distress, it is even more important to be watchful and take preventative measures to stopping elderly abuse.

Far too often, elderly abuse goes unreported.  Some seniors don’t admit they are suffering from abuse because they feel it questions their independency or because they are afraid the abuse will get worse.

Fortunately, there are programs such as Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) to lead in supporting victimized seniors. SALT’s mission is to raise awareness of crime and security issues related to the elderly.   SALT acts as a liaison between seniors and local police departments and provides updates on any fraudulent activity that may occur that could affect seniors.

SALT provides seniors with information on home security and personal safety and also identifies reoccurring problems, such as fraudulent activities and scams, and recommends programs that will benefit senior citizens.

In Flushing, Mich., SALT provides and installs safety items such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, dead bolt locks, 911 light switches and 911 reflective signs are available to residents 62 years of age or older.  SALT volunteers also reach out to seniors that live alone by personally calling them and providing personal interaction for those that may feel isolated.

Preventative measures need to be taken to stop elderly abuse and SALT provides a great initiative and helping hand to the victims of such a horrible crime.  To find the SALT program in your community contact your local police department.

Ismael Ahmed, Russell Ebeid & John Dingell to be honored at ACCESS 37th Anniversary Dinner

DEARBORN – On May 10, a diverse group of leaders, dignitaries, and community members will gather to celebrate the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) 37th Anniversary to celebrate 37 years of service to the community and honor this year’s award recipients.

Director of the Michigan Department of Human Services and former ACCESS Executive Director, Ismael Ahmed, will receive the prestigious Arab American of the Year Award.

To read full article, please click here.

Policy change works to provide permanent housing for the homeless, rent payments to those on brink of eviction

The Grand Rapid Press, May 27, 2009;  By: Ron Cammel

GRAND RAPIDS — A state policy shift will help a local effort to reduce the number of shelter beds for homeless people and increase permanent housing.

The Department of Human Services will allow area Emergency Shelter Partnership funds to go toward rental subsidies. The funds previously only could be used to reinburse homeless shelters and pay for hotel stays.

“Our 10-year plan is very consistent with this,” said Janay Brower, director of the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness.

“Allowing more flexibility with these funds enables a coordinated community response that will better serve the individuals’ and families’ long-term housing needs,” said Ismael Ahmed, DHS director, in a press release.

To read full article, please click.

State of Michigan to Break Ground in Taylor

TAYLOR, MI – May 29, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — ProVisions, LLC and the State of Michigan will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. on June 2, 2009 to announce the Taylor Business Center (www.taylorbusinesscenter.com) as the Michigan Department of Human Services’ new office facility. The ceremony will take place at the Taylor Business Center’s location at 25637 Ecorse Road in Taylor, Michigan. The event’s speakers include Ismael Ahmed, State of Michigan Director of the Department of Human Services, and Murray D. Wikol – ProVisions, LLC President and CEO.

To read full article, click here.

Video Interview with Ismael Ahmed

Interview with Ismael Ahmed, co-founder and long-time executive director of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS).  Mr. Ahmed stepped down from his position at ACCESS in 2007 to accept the position of director of the Michigan Department of Human Services.

To watch interview, click here.

Ismael Ahmed and DHS plan for greater FIP caseload

Michigan’s high number of unemployed workers are expected to mean a huge jump in family assistance welfare cases later this year as their jobless benefits expire, Department of Human Services officials told a House budget panel on Wednesday.  DHS Director Ismael Ahmed also said food stamp assistance is already seeing a historic rise adding some 20,000-30,000 cases each month in a program that already serves 1.4 million households.

To read full article, click here.

Twitter

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