Michigan court leaders push for child welfare system reforms

Members of the Michigan Association for Family Court Administration testified on Tuesday, highlighting the strain on the state’s child welfare system due to thin staffing and uneven funding. Vice President Thom Lattig and President Dave Pelon emphasized that more at-risk children are being placed in institutions rather than foster homes, urging lawmakers to give local caseworkers more access to centralized intake system information to better catch cases needing attention. The lawmakers are considering a legislative package that would redirect $150 million in existing Department of Health and Human Services funding to improve the system without increasing the state’s budget.

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