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: – any referral can be made here. Usually a short wait. Assistance (Food, Medical): or Ernesto Diaz – I cannot take any referrals  Staff Directory

LEARNING THE ACRONYMS DHHS – Department of Health and Human Services CPS – Child Protective Services FC – Foster Care CI – Central Intake LTP – Living Together Partner APS – 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 -  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  24/24  24/72

ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATOR Time of Day Rotation Previous Referrals Safety issues Law Enforcement Other 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