The application is available for free at the Android Market. It will allow DHS partner agencies and advocates to find the closest DHS office, information about applying for food or emergency energy assistance online, and up-to-the minute news about DHS programs and services.

It will also be available on the iPhone platform in January.

A DHS partner expressed her excitement at a recent media event that announced the application.

“With the unveiling of this important application, DHS has found another way to proactively look to the needs of the child welfare system by increasing coordination of services between the public and private sectors, and making it all easily accessible,” said Janet Snyder, Michigan Federation for Children and Families executive director.

She added: “All efforts to better integrate services to children and families are met with great enthusiasm.”

The mobile application was developed by the Michigan-based JacAPPS; it will also feature information on how to:

• Report abuse of children or adults.
• Report suspected fraud in DHS programs.
• Become a foster or adoptive parent.

We launched the mobile application now – amid records being set monthly for food assistance and Medicaid recipients – to provide another resource to ensure the safety net helps those who are truly in need.

Now, DHS will be at their fingertips!

A mock-up of the mobile application.

That’s a message I truly stand behind as the holidays are now upon us. ‘Tis the season to open our hearts to others, but I also want to encourage you to open your home to a child in need.

It’s a message I will be sharing on an upcoming Detroit Public TV program that’s focusing on foster care and adoption. The Michigan Department of Human Services’ special report, “Telling Our Story,” will air at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, and at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, on Channel 56.

It’s a touching story told by those who have lived it: an adoptive parent, a foster child, and a woman who aged out of the system. Through their personal stories, you will learn about the need for foster homes and about resources available to accommodate both you and your children’s needs.

Those resources include access to prevention programs and mental health resources, such as in-home services and supports to children with serious emotional needs who are in the foster care system.

Last year, Michigan families adopted 3,030 children from foster care. That’s the highest number ever. But, today in Michigan, there are still more than 15,000 children in foster care. Of those children, about 3,500 are available for adoption.

That’s why DHS continues to work with a national campaign to build awareness of the need for foster and adoptive parents, and about the process of opening your home to a child.

The theme of the campaign is “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.”

And you really don’t. Children in foster care don’t care if you’re cool. They care if you’re there.

The campaign is designed to appeal to families willing to provide safe, loving and stable homes for children in need.

Some say we’re asking people to take on a big burden. But, I say it’s an opportunity to give a child a “forever family” — something they all want and deserve.

Yes, we’re asking people to take on a huge responsibility, but as a father of five, I can tell you that you get a thousand times in love what you invest.

For more information about the campaign, please visit www.michigan.gov/perfectparent.

Additional resources include: www.adoptuskids.org or call toll-free 888-200-4005. For Spanish, visit www.adoptel.org or call toll-free 877-236-7831. Please visit Detroit Public TV online at http://www.dptv.org/.

For the past year, our department has undertaken significant reforms to make sure we’re doing our part to make that happen for all of the 15,023 children in Michigan’s foster care system.

Of those children, more than 3,483 have a goal of adoption because they are state or court wards after parental rights were terminated by a court because of abuse or neglect.

Because of our efforts and those of our partners, more children in Michigan’s foster care system are in permanent homes. That might mean they are reunited with their family, have been adopted or have a guardian.

In fact, in the last fiscal year, 3,030 children – more than ever before – found a permanent home when they were adopted from the foster care system.

That commitment to children earned DHS a federal award for increasing the number of children adopted from foster care in 2009 – the largest award of this kind in the department’s history.

Additionally, the department received a $2 million national grant to partner with Southfield-based Spaulding for Children to develop a best practice outreach model in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, which are responsible for nearly 42 percent of the state’s foster care cases.

The grant funding will spread over five years, and will specifically aim to increase awareness of the need for foster care parents, place children in permanent homes in a timely manner, and find appropriate placements for children with disabilities, teens and siblings.

Our goal is to return children to their birth parents, but when that’s not possible, we want to make sure we place them in a home that meets their needs. We need more homes to make sure those placements are a good fit from the start.

That’s why we continue our work with the national campaign to build awareness of the need for foster and adoptive parents, and about the process of opening your home to a child.

The theme of the campaign is “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.”

And you really don’t. Children in foster care don’t care if you’re cool. They care if you’re there.

The campaign is designed to appeal to families willing to provide safe, loving and permanent homes for children in need.

Some say we’re asking people to take on a big burden. I say it’s an opportunity.

Yes, we’re asking people to take on a huge responsibility, but as a father of five I can tell you that you get a thousand times in love what you invest.

Once again, I want to thank those parents for giving a child something that they all deserve: A safe, loving and stable home. And I encourage everyone to consider becoming a foster or adoptive parent.

For more information, visit www.adoptuskids.org or www.michigan.gov/perfectparent.

A Genesee County judge introduces a little girl to the bench.

A Kalamazoo County family participates in their second Adoption Day.

A young boy gets a "forever family" during the eighth annual Michigan Adoption Day in Wayne County.

A Genesee County family participates in the eighth annual Adoption Day.



In particular, it is irresponsible for state Rep. Tom McMillin to erroneously claim in the article “Bridge Cards: Used or Abused by College Students?” published in the Michigan Messenger on Nov. 12 that there is $1 billion of fraud in the Michigan Department of Human Services without verifying the facts.

 When asked by DHS staff, McMillin pointed to a recent Office of Auditor General single audit as the basis for his allegations. However, this audit did not even speak to fraud, and the numbers he used did not add up.

So, I ask, where is the evidence of his alleged fraud? We have requested it and welcome it because the DHS Office of Inspector General is focused on ensuring that public assistance is used by those with a legitimate need.

In fiscal year 2010, OIG agents completed 4,952 recipient fraud investigations, identifying fraud of $15.8 million. The office’s special investigations unit, which performs the most complex investigations involving vendors, service providers and employee allegations, identified $2.8 million of fraud after completing 253 non-recipient investigations. In total, OIG efforts identified $18.6 million of fraud.

We rely on citizens – including legislators – to serve as watch dogs and report potential fraud by calling 800-222-8558 or on our website at www.michigan.gov by clicking on “report welfare fraud.”

OIG staff also trains DHS caseworkers to spot potential fraud as client cases are opened, and then either deny, reduce or withdraw benefits when appropriate. In fiscal year 2010, fraud prevention staff conducted 2,009 investigations, saving taxpayers $14.9 million.

Making unfounded, albeit attention-grabbing allegations, may have unintended and unfair consequences. They create a stigma that may prevent those who truly need help from coming to us so as to not be cast as someone who is abusing the system. Or it could discourage those DHS employees who work hard every day to ensure no one goes without despite caseloads that average 710 per worker.

We want to put a stop to that. This safety net is here to help vulnerable children, adults and families temporarily get through tough times. The average family receiving assistance is a single parent with two children. That parent also typically works and gets help for about two years, not a lifetime.

Let us take this time of thanksgiving to be thankful for the safety net and the DHS employees who make sure Michigan’s hard-working families have access to healthy food, heat in the winter and can get medical care.

Let’s not spend it making virulent and discriminatory attacks against our fellow citizens. Because, today it is more likely than every before that our friends, neighbors or relatives collects at least one assistance benefit because of unemployment, home foreclosure or another reason.

In fact, one in Michigan residents receives services from DHS.

At DHS, we’ll continue to serve the state’s vulnerable children, adults and families. Because we want to make sure they can count on the safety net not just during Thanksgiving, but every day throughout the year.

I had the absolute pleasure yesterday of recognizing a few of those individuals, including Terry Salacina, the director of field operations. After nearly 35 years and three department name changes, he plans to retire in December. Terry has and continues to be an advocate for the field and makes sure everything we do is seen through the lens of common sense and practicality for the field.

I also commended the county directors, who have been the face of DHS in their local communities. They have shown great leadership on the ground – where the true work is done – by shouldering the burden of meeting the increase in demand.

I also recognized four DHS employees and two DHS teams for our 2010 Star Award and one DHS manager for the Best Practice Leadership Award. They represent some of the best work being done in our department.

These annual programs honor DHS employees and teams from around the state whose work performance upholds and exemplifies the department’s values and goals. Criteria taken into consideration include actions or achievements that demonstrate leadership, integrity, inclusion, teamwork and excellence.

We received 32 nominations for the Star Award, and all of the nominees are extraordinary employees and teams. The honorees include:

• Teresa Marvin, of Portland, an Early On parent liaison in the Central Office Children’s Protective Services. She has worked for the department for 10 years and demonstrates integrity and fairness in all she does, while helping fellow employees recognize their own strengths.
• LaTasha McKinney-Newell, of Canton, a district secretary in the Wayne County Inkster district office. She has been with DHS for four years and is recognized for her strong organizations skills that have allowed her to improve the administrative hearing process.
• Sharon L. Rowland, of Redford Township, a Jobs, Education and Training specialist in the Wayne County Greydale/Grand River district office. She has spent 13 years at DHS and is dedicated to providing excellent customer service.
• Kaye Smith-Clay, of Detroit, a department manager at the Wayne County Greydale/Grand River district office currently assigned to Cadillac Place. She has worked for DHS for 20 years, and makes a practice of soliciting input from key stakeholders, actively listens and provides follow up in a timely manner.

 Star Award team honorees include:

 The Cash and Employment and Training Policy Unit, which is in Adult and Family Services. Members of the unit have consistently proved themselves to be dedicated, hard-working, professional experts who developed a training program, traveled through the state to train staff – all while maintaining their regular duties. Team members include:

• Dale Shaw, of Dewitt, cash assistance policy analyst.
• Dawn M. Sweeney, of Potterville, employment and training policy analyst.
• Bobi Dixon, of Grand Ledge, disability policy analyst.
• Pam Hartenburg, of Eaton Rapids, employment and training program specialist.

The Grandmont Service Center Administrative Support Unit, which consists of duties like answering phones, assisting clients with submitting applications and registering applications. The service center opened in May 2010. At that time, the team, which was a mix of clerical staff from various districts, worked for six weeks without a supervisor. The team showed individual and collective leadership and adapted quickly. Team members include:

• Andrea Andrews, of Belleville, general office assistant.
• Doreen Gartrell, of Detroit, general office assistant.
• Germaine Harville, of Detroit, administrative services manager.
• Dennis Locke, of Detroit, general office assistant.
• Mi Wha McBrien, of Huntington Woods, program manager.
• Valerie Metzler, of Detroit, word processing assistant.
• Yvonne Owens, of Taylor, general office assistant.
• Andrea Strong, of Roseville, general office assistant.
• Yaita Turner, of Southfield, word processing assistant.
• LaClair Winbush, of Oak Park, district secretary.

The final award was given to Kate Hanley. The Okemos resident is the director of the permanency division within the Bureau of Child Welfare. She received the Best Practice Leadership Award for her efforts to help children find permanency. She developed and implemented the Permanency Resource Manager program to help children who’ve waited the longest in foster care find permanent connections. By Sept. 30, 81 percent of temporary court wards and 77 percent of permanent court wards in counties that participate in the program achieved permanency.

DHS is truly better because of these people who go above and beyond to help us fulfill our mission to serve vulnerable children, adults and families. I commend them for their outstanding service and dedication.

As a federally-mandated voter-registration agency, the Michigan Department of Human Services doesn’t ever stop registering voters.

In fact, DHS’ role is to give citizens access to register to vote in all elections. This simply means that DHS is mandated to offer voter registration forms to adult assistance applicants who are seeking assistance, redetermination or a change of address.

DHS workers will help clients fill out voter registration forms, if they are asked, and then forward the forms to the appropriate clerk in a timely manner.

Select DHS offices statewide also have computer stations for clients to use to access the voter registration application. They can print it, fill it out and leave the completed application at the same office.

Voting is more than just a freedom that gives all adult Michigan citizens the opportunity to participate in government. It is one of the most important responsibilities of our democracy.

So, be sure to register at your local DHS office. A list of local offices can be found on our website at www.michigan.gov/dhs.

Sen. Mark C. Jansen, R-Gaines Township, speaks at the Michigan DHS poverty simulation press event.

The poverty simulation was well-attended by the media. One reporter interviews Rep. Mary Valentine, D-Muskegon.

DHS Director Ismael Ahmed speaks at the DHS poverty simulation press event.

Last week, was definitely a busy one for the Michigan Department of Human Services as we worked on several fronts around Michigan including expanding our myths about welfare and helping families campaigns.

I kicked off the week announcing new local resources for children and families in Detroit and also had the pleasure of joining Governor Jennifer M. Granholm to announce the opening of a Family Resource Center at McKinley Foundation Academy in Flint.

But, that’s not all. I was able to help share the struggles people in poverty face today with the public and state legislators at a poverty simulation at the State Capitol.

It should come as no surprise to hear that our caseworkers at DHS have seen an unprecedented increase in demand for services as people are struggling to pay their bills and put food on their tables.

They see a visual representation in our county offices where the number of people coming to us for help grows each day.

In fact, about 2.5 million people – or about one in four Michigan residents – receive some sort of assistance from DHS, such as food, Medicaid or help with emergency services.

It’s a sad reality as the economic climate has deeply impacted Michigan residents.

The poverty simulation was aimed at opening peoples’ eyes to the human cost of poverty, as well as highlighting community resources for families in need.

Sen. Mark C. Jansen, R-Gaines Township, said at the event: “In my work with the department, nonprofits, churches and the local community, I see many families in need. Today’s workshop helped all of us ask ourselves what we can do as a larger community to better help struggling parents find ways to provide for their families.”

Rep. Mary Valentine, D-Muskegon, who also participated in the event, said Michigan’s declining wages and rising unemployment have resulted in a new face of poverty, which now extends into the middle class.

It is actually a myth that welfare recipients only live in poor, urban areas, not the suburbs or wealthier areas of the state.

In Wayne County, for example, Dearborn saw an almost 44 percent increase in the number of people receiving Medicaid and more than 50 percent in the number of food assistance recipients between July 2008 and September of this year.

In Livonia, it was almost 60 percent for Medicaid and 105 percent for food assistance over the same time period.

Kent County’s Grand Rapids saw a 39 percent increase in the number of people receiving Medicaid and more than 29 percent in the number of food assistance recipients over the same time period.

In Grandville, it was over 54 percent for Medicaid and 67 percent for food assistance.

The poverty simulation also provided insight into the tough choices Michigan residents are making each and every day. For example, some people are choosing between paying for food or medicine, paying their electric bill or their mortgage.

Valentine added: “This experience can be both humbling and frightening. It is important during these difficult economic times that we reach out to one another and grow in our understanding of each other. If we do this, we will find, when our economy recovers, we have become a stronger Michigan because of our deeper understanding of one another.”

More and more, people are making those decisions in all areas of the state, including the suburbs. DHS employees are doing everything they can to make sure those needs are met. In 2002, for example, caseloads per worker were at about 320, on average. Today, the average is 710 cases.

That’s why it is so important that we protect and strengthen the different threads that make up that the safety net that was created to help families make ends meet and get back on their feet again. More people need it now than ever before. For a look at how the need has increased in Michigan cities since 2008, see our fact sheet on the subject.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm talks to children at the Michigan Department of Human Services' Helping Families 101 event in Flint.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Department of Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed announce the opening of a Family Resource Center in Flint.

I had a great day on Wednesday, Sept. 29.

I joined Governor Jennifer M. Granholm to announce another investment being made to ensure the success of Michigan’s children: the Mott Foundation made a Family Resource Center a reality at the McKinley Foundation Academy in Flint.

At an event attended by the media, Michigan Department of Human Services representatives and our partners, the governor shared her vision for Family Resource Centers to create a one-stop, user-friendly service model for families using local and state human services.

I truly believe every child deserves to be in a safe, loving and stable environment where they can thrive, grow and reach their full potential.

At the event, I announced on behalf of the governor and DHS that the department will invest more than $6 million for child abuse and neglect prevention pilot programs in five urban communities: Flint, Detroit, Dearborn, Pontiac and Grand Rapids.

In Genesee County, the Ennis Center for Children, Inc.; Spectrum Child and Family Services; and Orchards Children’s Services will receive funding and provide local services.

The Genesee County investment alone is $1.6 million and will serve more than 300 families.

These contractors will provide services, such as home visits and parent education, designed to prevent child abuse and neglect of children ages birth to 18, strengthen families and prevent them from entering the child welfare system.

What’s key is that it’s adapted to the family’s needs.

It is a top priority that children remain with their birth parents when it can be done in a safe, loving and stable environment.

And, I believe, these agencies will provide services that will ultimately give parents the tools they need to parent children safely.

For more information on DHS’ Helping Families 101: Get ready 2 learn campaign, please visit www.michigan.gov/helpingfamilies101.

It was a great event that brought together many of the Michigan Department of Human Services’ partners, including Spaulding for Children and the Skillman Foundation, to announce that we’re going to open a Family Resource Center at the school.

We also announced, as part of the department’s “Helping Families 101: Get ready 2 learn,” statewide campaign that five Metro Detroit health and human service agencies will participate in DHS’ child abuse and neglect prevention pilot program, investing more than $6 million in five urban communities: Detroit, Dearborn, Pontiac, Flint and Grand Rapids.

The new resources come at a time of great need because the Michigan Department of Human Services recognizes that families continue to struggle in today’s economy.

And, all children should have the opportunity to go to school with their heads held high so they can concentrate on learning.

We hope the Family Resource Center, or FRC, will be as successful as the 48 others statewide. They are really a “one-stop-shop” for family services located within or near a neighborhood school.

They provide all DHS services, as well as school-based parent involvement programs, and access to mental health services, therapy and other services deemed necessary by local partners.

Children deserve every opportunity to have a bright future.

And, I believe, FRCs really provide those opportunities because they offer the tools necessary to decrease student school behavior problems, absenteeism and truancy, and increase parental participation and academic performance.

The child abuse and neglect prevention pilot program will also help meet the needs of Metro Detroit families through the contractors, including the Oakland County Health Department.

In Detroit and Dearborn, the contractors are: Lutheran Social Services of Michigan; Spaulding for Children; Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, or ACCESS; and Spectrum Child and Family Services.

The Wayne County investment alone is $3 million and will serve more than 750 families.

These contractors will provide services – like home visits and parent education – designed to prevent child abuse and neglect of children ages birth to 18, strengthen families and prevent them from entering the child welfare system.

What’s key is that the services are adapted to the family’s needs.

Addie D. Williams, president and CEO of Spaulding for Children, made a great point at our event.

“Every family needs support at some time in their lives. Often, the only difference between a parent that abuses or neglects a child and one that does not is the support provided at a strategic moment and the access to needed resources,” she said.

It is a top priority that children remain with their birth parents when it can be done in a safe, loving and stable environment.

These agencies will provide services that will ultimately give parents the tools they need to parent children safely. And, these resources will help children stay focused in the classroom, which is vital as they are our next leaders.