DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS)SERVING OUR CHILDREN

OBJECTIVES

• How to contact the DHHS

• The Origins and Process of a CPS investigation

• Services provided• Overview of Foster

Care, Assistance Services, Adult PS, and Foster Care.

HOW TO CONTACT DHHS

Telephone: 855-444-3911 – any referral can be made here. Usually a short wait.

Assistance (Food, Medical): 269-467-1200 or www.michigan.gov/mibridges

Ernesto Diaz 269-716-8498 – I cannot take any referrals

Staff Directory

LEARNING THE ACRONYMS

DHHS – Department of Health and Human Services

CPS – Child Protective ServicesFC – Foster CareCI – Central Intake LTP – Living Together PartnerAPS – Adult Protective Services

GETTING STARTED

CPS – Make a CPS referral to CI

CPS then responds and will make referrals to other agencies for services (DASAS, FOC, CMH, DRC, Counseling, etc.)

Assistance – there are two ways to access Online application - https://www.mibridges.michigan.gov/access/

Go to DHHS and fill out app in lobby

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT A CPS REFERRAL FROM THE BEGINNING.

A person makes a CPS referral by calling CI and stating their concerns.

- Consideration – does it fit abuse/neglect, has it been investigated in past, what history with family, currently involved?

CI ASSIGNS

CI has two options – Assign or Reject

A Rejected case ends there

An Assigned case is sent to the “Assigning Supervisor of the day” with a timeframe

Commencement/Face to Face I/24 24/2424/72

ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATOR

Time of DayRotationPrevious ReferralsSafety issuesLaw EnforcementOther Agencies/Units

INVESTIGATOR

• Commencement/Face to face

• Identify victims

• Interview ALL Children, Household Members, Parents, Witnesses, Referral Source, Police, etc.

• Coordinate with police, medical personnel, schools, counselors, referral sources, family, etc.

• Supervisor case conference

DECISIONS

Investigator has 30 days to gather facts and submit for review.

Substantiate: Preponderance of evidence 51% threshold

Unsubstantiate: Insufficient evidence, but may still have concerns.

CPS CATEGORIES

• Cat I: Court cases, removals• Cat II: Found substantial

abuse/neglect, High Risk, but no court involvement necessary. Family cooperating, referred to services, Monitor by DHS.

• Cat III: Moderate Risk, monitoring

and services will depend on

assessment.

UNSUBSTANTIATIONS

Cat IV: Insufficient Evidence. May still have concerns, can refer to services, but limited on what can be paid by DHS.

Cat V: unable to locate, false complaint, NO evidence

COURT CASE

• Cat I • Petition• Perpetrators placed on

Central Registry• Relative Placements• Licensed Foster Care • Problems – finding homes,

belongings, placing children

FOSTER CARE SERVICES

• Receive case from CPS (5 day packet)

• Attend hearings• Monitor family, visits, services, etc. • Report to court• Return Home, Terminate,

Guardianship

Ann Forman

CPS ON-GOING SERVICES

• Cat II or III cases• Receive “Transfer” case from

Investigator• Court cases placed with a parent• Monitor services for family• Sometimes Remove• Close Case

CPS MYTHS

• Workers are paid to remove kids

• Quota to meet

• Enjoy removing children

• Remove due to Lice

• Remove without services

• Workers decide who gets removed

• Can you think of others?

ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES

• Mellody Fuller• Cash• Food• Medical• SER• Direct Support

ACRONYMS

• FAP – Food Assistance Program

• ES – Eligibility Specialist

• FIS – Financial Independence Specialist

• SER-State Emergency Relief

• CDC-Child Day Care

• FIP-Cash Assistance for families

• SDA-State Disability Assistance

• DSS-Direct Supportive Services

• HMP-Healthy Michigan Plan

• LIF-Low Income Families

• OHK-Other Healthy Kids

ADULT PS

• Protect the vulnerable adult

• Assist in getting connected to services.

• Court involvement

• Guardianships

• Request payee for social security.

• WE DO NOT Remove adults from their homes.

• Provide on-call after hours on weekends n holidays.  

THANK YOU!

Other Services

Adoption – NO MORE

Licensing Foster Parents

MYOI – Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative