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Date: Friday, December 19, 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Kharfen (202) 401-9215

HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced approval of a demonstration project to improve child protection services in Michigan. This is the tenth waiver for states to undertake innovations in their child welfare programs approved by the Clinton Administration.

"The President is committed to making sure every child has a healthy and stable home and to supporting and strengthening their families," said Secretary Shalala. "We commend Michigan's new initiative to intervene early and quickly with at risk families ensuring child safety and stronger families."

The demonstration has two components. The Michigan Intensive Family Preservation Initiative will support a range of services intended to strengthen and assist families.

Participating counties will receive a fixed amount of child welfare funds, and have authority to use the funds in ways that best meet the specific needs of individual families. Counties can design their child protection and child welfare systems in ways that better ensure the safety of children and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of child welfare services. Services may include child care, home visiting, family planning, home management, parent education, respite care, transportation, job training, educational, and other forms of assistance. Counties that achieve savings will be able to reinvest in additional services. The waiver is for four years.

A second component, to be implemented initially in Wayne County (Detroit), will provide better services for adolescents who are in the child welfare system and have been or are in danger of being adjudicated delinquent.

The Community Services for Delinquent Youth component requires each child to have a plan that identifies the needs of both the child and the family, sets clear goals for the child, and describes the services and treatments needed to meet those needs and goals. A broad range of child welfare services will be available, including family preservation, substance abuse treatment, family foster care, residential treatment, reunification, and independent living services. This waiver is for five years.

"We are particularly interested in Michigan's efforts to strengthen partnerships between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems," said Olivia A. Golden, HHS assistant secretary for children and families. "The efforts in Wayne County will be watched closely for its implications for other large metropolitan areas."

Federal funds will be available for services which previously could be used primarily to pay for the room and board of eligible children in out-of-home care. The demonstration will be cost neutral to the federal government and include a rigorous evaluation.

As part of the new Adoption and Safe Families Act signed into law by President Clinton last month, HHS has new authority to offer up to 10 additional states waivers for innovative demonstrations each year.