TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Charge Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Task Force Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Actions Taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Next Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
INTRODUCTION
A Task Force was convened in Fall 2020, headed by Demetrius Starling,
executive director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’
Children’s Services Agency (MDHHS CSA), to address the over-representation
of children of color in the foster care system in Michigan. Children of color enter
foster care at higher rates, and stay in care longer, than their white peers.

While 16% of children in Michigan While 31% of children in Michigan

are Black, children who are Black are children of color, they make up
make up 29% of the state’s foster 51% of the foster care population.
care population.

Children of color are more likely to be placed in institutional settings, stay there
for long periods of time, and age out of the foster care system without a family.
As a result of these experiences, black and brown children and their families
are at greater risk for negative health, social, and economic effects that can
last a lifetime.

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PAGE 4
Recognizing racism as a public health concern, MDHHS seeks to address
systemic racism and transform our child protection system to one that prioritizes
family wellbeing and the prevention of trauma. Acknowledging the need
for input and efforts from stakeholders across the state, MDHHS convened
individuals including national and local experts, community stakeholders,
parents, and youth with lived experience.

The group was brought together to provide guidance and recommendations

to MDHHS for the following:

1. Reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the strategies identified

by the Children Services Agency, assessing whether the agency is
implementing the identified strategies, and seeking necessary community
support—including legislative support—to implement effective strategies.

2. Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the new

approach. The goal is to fully implement a new approach that improves
safety and equity and reduces unnecessary and potentially harmful
investigations of Black families.

3. Provide policy and practice recommendations to improve equity in group

care of children who are removed from their home.

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The Task Force met monthly, beginning in January 2021.
The approach of the Task Force was segmented into three phases:

1. Grounding/Listening/Learning:
As the Task Force members all have varying levels of experience
and touched different aspects of the child welfare realm, the Task
Force members spent the first quarter of their meetings level
setting including reviewing previous reports on child welfare in
Michigan, listening to experts in the field, and engaging front-line
staff, parents, and youth with lived experience.

2. Implementing/Monitoring:
When the Task Force progressed through the first phase of
their work, they began to collect, and identify recommendations
to address inequitable policies and practices across the child
welfare system. As the Task Force wraps up its initial meetings,
they are working with MDHHS staff and leadership to develop
and implement plans to progress their recommendations and the
transformation of the child welfare system in Michigan.

3. Reporting:
Moving forward, the Task Force will continue to meet
to review the recommendations that have been implemented
through MDHHS and to see if they are having the intended
impact in reducing inequitable treatment in the child
welfare system.

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The Task Force identified and formulated over fifty recommendations for
consideration and implementation by MDHHS. The Task Force agreed to
begin with six main recommendations:

1 Increase specialized services and supports for relative

and fictive kin caregivers

2 Implement appropriate services to reduce CCI placements

and length of stay

3 Secure funding to implement the recommendations

4 Implement new Structured Decision Making (SDM) tools

5 Redefine abuse and neglect/physical neglect

6 Increase access to mental health services for children and families

The Task Force has developed an implementation plan to move forward the first
three recommendations.

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CHARGE STATEMENT
The goal of the Child Welfare Improvement Task Force (the Task Force)
is to support the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
in bringing about change and to improve the safe, fair, and equitable treatment
of all Michigan’s children and families. MDHHS has acknowledged the disparate
treatment of black children and families as a barrier to achieving this goal
and has identified specific strategies to address this challenge. The Task
Force will be responsible for reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the
strategies identified by the agency, assess whether the agency is implementing
the identified strategies, and seek necessary community support including
legislative support to implement effective strategies.

MDHHS has identified the unnecessary investigation of black families as part of

the child protection process as a critical contributor to the disparate outcomes
evident in the child protection system. They have further highlighted a proposed
solution that involves creating alternatives to an investigation when possible.
The Task Force will oversee the planning, design, implementation and evaluation
of this new approach. The goal will be to fully implement a new approach that
improves safety, improves equity, and reduces unnecessary and potentially
harmful investigations of black families.

In addition, MDHHS has identified that black children are more likely to be
placed in group care settings and stay longer in these settings than white
children. They have further identified poor outcomes, including compromised
safety, a lower likelihood of achieving permanency, and poorer educational
outcomes for this group. MDHHS has not yet developed specific strategies
to address this challenge. Therefore, the Task Force is further charged with
providing policy and practice recommendations to improve equity regarding
group home care.

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The Task Force has the authority to engage in any and or all of the following
in fulfilling its obligations:

1 Review of data 7 Reviews of research

2 Case reviews 8 Conduct hearings including:

3 Public hearings A Youth & Families

4 Interviews of MDHHS staff B Academic experts

5 Policy reviews C Providers

6 Budget reviews D Child Welfare Staff

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TASK FORCE MEMBERS
CO-CHAIRS: Ann Silverberg Williamson, Former
David Sanders, PH.D. Executive Vice Executive Director, Utah Department of
President of Systems Improvement-Co- Human Services
Chair Representative Stephanie Young,
Tommy Stallworth, EOG Legislative and District 8 - Michigan House Democrats
External Affairs Senior Advisor- Co-Chair EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:
TASK FORCE MEMBERS: Selene V. Wadhawan Weiss,
Lara Bouse, Foster parent, President, MDHHS Child Protective Services Case
Fostering Forward Michigan Worker

Senator Marshall Bullock, Michigan Lynette Wright, Deputy Director, Wayne

Senator (D-Detroit) County MDHHS

Justice Elizabeth T. Clement, Michigan Demetrius Starling, Children Services

Supreme Court Agency Director, MDHHS

Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez, Vice President, Shayne Machen, Esq., Special Advisor to

Center for Systems Innovation the Children Services Agency Director,
MDHHS
Representative Luke Meerman,
District 88 - Michigan House Republicans ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Kayla Morgan, Youth Alumni Kristine Andrews PhD, Program Director,

Child Trends
Debra Pinals, M.D., Medical Director of
Behavioral Health and Forensic Programs, Alexandra Citrin, Senior Associate,
Michigan Department of Health and the Center for the Study for Social Policy
Human Services Dr. Anne Farrell, Director of Research,
Lillie Pinder, Birth Parent Chapin Hall

Joseph P. Ryan, Co-Director – Child and Ali Jawetz, Senior Policy Analyst,
Adolescent Data Lab, Professor of Social Center for the Study of Social Policy
Work, University of Michigan Professor of Lisa Mishraky-Javier, Senior Associate,
Social Work, School of Social Work and Center for the Study of Social Policy
Faculty Associate, Population Studies STEERING COMMITTEE
Center, ISR
Wendy Campau, Director of
Vivek Sankaran, University of Michigan Organizational Services, MDHHS
Children’s Law Clinic
Kelly Sesti, Division of Continuous Quality
Jason Smith, Executive Director, Michigan Improvement Director, MDHHS
Center for Youth Justice
Anita Shannon, Strategic Consulting
Janet Reynolds Snyder, Executive Senior Director, Casey Family Programs
Director, Michigan Federation for Children
and Families Savator Selden-Johnson, MSW, Kent
DHHS Child Welfare Director, MDHHS
Carol Wilson Spigner, MSW, DSW,
University of Pennsylvania
Michael E. Williams, President and Chief
Executive Office, Orchards Children’s
Services

* Follow this link for full bios with photos PAGE 10

RECOMMENDATIONS
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
Increase specialized services and supports for relative
1 and fictive kin caregivers
Children are entering foster care when they could be placed safely with
relatives or fictive kin.

Implement appropriate services to reduce CCI placements

2 and length of stay
Children of color are disproportionately placed in CCIs and have
longer lengths of stay.

Secure funding to implement the recommendations

3 CSA’s current budget does not provide adequate resources to advance
these two recommendations.

Implement new Structured Decision Making (SDM) tools

4 Communities of color are reported to and engaged with child welfare
systems, placed in care, and placed in more restrictive forms of care.

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5 Redefine abuse and neglect/physical neglect
Families who have contact with child welfare and whose children are
placed in care overwhelmingly experience poverty, housing instability, and
associated challenges. There is ample evidence that judgments of neglect are
confounded with the effects of poverty.

Increase access to mental health services for children and families

6
The disproportionate placement of children of color in care and in CCIs
reflects a cross-systems phenomenon in which they experience more
restrictive placements. There is a need for early identification and appropriate
intervention to avert crisis and placement.

The Task Force has developed an implementation plan to move forward the
first three recommendations.

For full list of recommendations please see the appendix

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 IMPLEMENTING/MONITORING:
When the Task Force progressed through the first phase of
their work, they began to collect, and identify recommendations
to address inequitable policies and practices across the child
welfare system. As the Task Force wraps up its initial meetings,
they are working with MDHHS staff and leadership to develop
and implement plans to progress their recommendations and the
transformation of the child welfare system in Michigan.

KINSHIP CARE ACTION PLAN

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CCI ACTION PLAN

FUNDING ACTION PLAN

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ACTIONS TAKEN
The Task Force has undertaken many efforts
and actions throughout the past year.

The Task Force used a three phased method to address

the work before them consisting of:

1 Grounding/Listening/Learning

2 Implementing/Monitoring

3 Reporting

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GROUNDING/LISTENING/LEARNING:
The actions taken during the first phase (grounding/listening/learning) consisted
of listening sessions with various groups and stakeholders that comprise
the child welfare system. The Task Force conducted a listening session with
front-line staff, parents, and youth to gain the knowledge, feedback, and
recommendations from those with lived experiences within the child welfare
system to better understand and address the issues that they see as the most
important and impactful when interacting and involved with system. Additionally,
the Task Force had presentations from stakeholders including private child
caring institutions (CCIs), MDHHS, data experts, Evident Change, and ideas42.
Furthermore, each of the workgroups presented their findings to the Task Force.

The Prior Reports workgroup summarized the past actions of similar Task Force
and stakeholders. The group reviewed past recommendations that have been
developed and implemented. This work was used to create and determine
recommendations for the Task Force to consider.

The Data Workgroup presented the current state of data collection and
visualization of the child welfare system. Noting trends within the child welfare
system, the group highlighted points of disparity and inequity.

The Practice Workgroup heard from various stakeholder groups to gain a better
understanding of the realities of front-line staff and the issues that are currently
in place. With the goal of working towards developing recommendations based
on lived experience and providing MDHHS with the expertise of experienced
individuals encompassing various aspects of the child welfare system. In
alignment with the Task Force Charge Statement the Practice Workgroup made
a priority creating recommendations to prevent or reduce the length of stay of
youth in a residential facility. Another area of interest included improvement of
the initial contact with Child Protective Services and families.

The Legislative/Budget Workgroup worked with MDHHS to better understand

the current state of the child welfare budget to identify areas for budgeting
change and/or needs of the Department through policy and legislative channels.

Overall, the Task Force has been active in reviewing the revised SDM tool that is
presently being worked on by MDHHS. They are also are working with MDHHS
on the revision of the definitions of abuse and neglect. The Task Force seeks to
analyze CCIs, CCI reform, and identify ways to further reduce the number
of children going into residential care and shortening the average length of
stay for youth.

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NEXT STEPS
REPORTING:
Moving forward, the Task Force will continue to meet
to review the recommendations that have been implemented
through MDHHS and to see if they are having the intended impact
in reducing inequitable treatment in the child welfare system.

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APPENDIX

PRIOR REPORTS WORKGROUP RECOMMENDATION

Actionable Recommendations to Keep Kids in Their
1 Homes and Communities

Build a racially informed risk assessment tool, i.e., looking at more

strengths-based assessments.

The tool should provide caseworkers with the ability to respond and act
(perform) appropriately with all cultures, and background. The guiding
practices need to increase the importance of cultural understanding and
sensitivity. The tool should require that caseworkers consider a family’s
background, culture and resources during an assessment.

Develop a DHHS oversight committee that consist of legal, family court,

CMH, education, civil rights, medical, DHHS leadership, DTMB, MCSC,
tribal leadership, affinity groups/organizations of private agencies to ensure
accountability in achieving Task Force recommendations.

This committee will have budgetary support and legislative mandate to

assure anti-racist policies and practices are defined, developed,
implemented and maintained.

Strengthen and streamline the practice of using and accessing flexible

funding to meet the needs of our families in order to keep children in the
home. Flexible funding practices should be extended to CMH and Medicaid
programs. Also, the State underutilizes the flexibility in existing programs.

Reevaluate the use of federal funds for prevention efforts (FFPSA). These
practices should be vetted through a race equity lens.

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 Create a PSA campaign that highlights family preservation and the
importance of family connections for children of color and that the family
is the expert on decisions and choices for their family. The DHHS must be
culturally sensitive, to get the truth to assist families.

The DHHS will monitor access to services, consider family perception and
suggestions for improvement.

Build internal leadership capacity to ensure the DHHS functions in an

equitable, fair, and representative manner. DHHS will have the capacity to
address disparities through appropriate policies and practices. The DHHS’
efforts to decrease overrepresentation of one or more groups should
be monitored.

Develop cultural, racial, gender competencies and curriculum regarding

cross-racial interactions for all levels of the DHHS. All staff will be educated
on the impact of unconscious biases, emphasizing that each child and
family has unique strengths, needs and resources.

DHHS, CSA, ARTT, through strategic direction, can provide advice on

proper trainings on Anti-racism.

Build a CI screening tool that is racially informed and culturally and

economically sensitive, to help screen complaints that are abuse
and neglect.

Revisit the MiTEAM Practice Model to enhance our strength-based

approach with families.

Implement practice and policy changes with the CPS redesign, new
risk assessment tool, CCI reform, FFPSA, need to be vetted through
consultation with a diverse group birth parents, tribal partners, youth with
lived experience, first line staff, and service providers.

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2 Actionable Recommendations to Keep Kids Out of Congregate Care

Ensure that CMH services and resources immediately align with families and
children who self-refer for services.

CMH providers can still choose who they want to see. We have parents who
accept neglect charges in order to get the help that they need.

Expand procurement process so that DHHS can expand services for parent
support partners, life coaches, culturally and trauma informed practices,
mobile crisis response teams, family system design respite systems, day
treatment programs for children who are SED, mentors and advocates for
children and families, Wraparound.

3 Actionable Recommendations to Reduce Racial Inequities

in Child Removals

Develop training on anti-bias case presentation by the worker when

discussing the case. Workers should have an understanding of how their
biases impact their decision making and case presentation.

The training should provide caseworkers with the ability to respond and
act (perform) appropriately with all cultures, and background. The guiding
practices need to increase the importance of cultural understanding and
sensitivity. The tool should require that caseworkers consider a family’s
background, culture and resources during an assessment.

Implement a state-funded mandate that each county has a person to act as

a neutral facilitator prior to any removals or CCI considerations.

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Employ strategies through a “targeted universalism” lens. Targeted
universalism means setting universal goals pursued by targeted processes
to achieve those goals. The strategies developed to achieve those goals are
targeted, based upon how different groups are situated within structures,
culture, and across geographies to obtain the universal goal.
– Professor John A. Powell, UC Berkeley.

4 Actionable Recommendations to Reduce Racial Inequities

in Congregate Care

Develop and require mandatory trainings on the impact of stress, trauma,

racism and how this impacts behavior with our youth.

In case where law enforcement is present, the protocol should be reviewed

to reduce trauma to youth.

Develop a culture that looks beyond the behavior and has the ability to
understand what the underlying causes of their behavior and how
to develop healthy coping strategies.

Review the DHHS’ policies and practices surrounding fictive kin placement
options with foster care maintenance payments and additional resources/
services to maintain placement stability.

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PRACTICE WORKGROUP RECOMMENDATION
Actionable Recommendations to Prevent/Reduce Length of Stay
in Congregate Care

Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to identify needs of

children/youth placed in CCIs and other demographics so that the state
understands the types of services that are necessary to prevent placement
of children, particularly children of color, in CCIs.

Conduct an environmental scan to assess current service array for children/

youth and foster parents that would prevent placement in a CCI.

Utilize information from quant/qual data analysis and environmental scan to

identify gaps in the current service array.

Develop targeted funding strategy to address the gaps in the current

services array.

CHILDREN, FAMILY, AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

Collaborative Prevention:
Partner/teaming with local services; Education & cultural awareness for service
partners (DHHS 101); Education on resiliency methods

Community Meeting:
Once/year; Give them a voice (ex. Sheriff Swanson);
Childcare provided by local services

Fictive Kin:
Licensing changes needed; not utilized enough

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Involvement:
Allow youth, and giving them a safe space, to give their opinion or express
frustration at every point along the way. Spend more time interviewing them,
listening to them, and involving them in action planning.

Connection to community:
Often staff is only in the community to take kids away, they need to be part of
the community.

Consistency Regardless of Geography:

Things are done differently in every county, and it should be the same. Parents
should have the same opportunity and resources no matter where they live.

CPS Rebranding:
Title revision- “Family Preservation Unit(?)” (more humanistic); Advertising
campaign: “DHHS-Dedicated to the safe, fair & equitable treatment of all MI’s
children & families, while maintaining child safety at all times.”; Ad content
including real life stories from children, parents & workers

Focus on prevention:
There is a need to address root causes and generational trauma

Availability of Placements

Connection to Resources:
Change the referral system. Give families information and connect them to/walk
them through resources and programing available.

Parent Partner:
Similar to a peer recovery coach, during initial contact with the worker and
parent should work together and remind the parent there is hope.

Tone:
the tone from the initial contact should be one of dignity and respect: Less of a
police tone, more partner tone; Parent/family support should be involved from
the beginning; Change how introductions, interactions occur-not calling it an
investigation.

Improving Resources:
Improve timeliness of DHHS requests; Secure community donations through
outreach; “SUCCESS” Services United to Communicate for Children through
Education for Support & Safety

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Consistency in staff:
Case workers switch often making it hard to establish relationships,
trust and connection.

Systematic trauma & normalcy

Maintaining a Stable Environment:

Switching schools is common, making obtaining an education harder to achieve.
Can be from one area and placed in another part of the state.

Root causes:
Focus on family need/root causes-not band aid fixes

Redefine Physical Neglect

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Copyright 2021