Michigan Department of Human Services
Encyclopedia
The Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) is the agency
of state of Michigan, headquartered in Lansing
, that provides public assistance, child and family welfare services. The DHS directs public service and assistance programs through a network of more than 100 county DHS offices statewide.
Applications for assistance can be made in person, by mail, by fax or over the Internet, depending on the program. For example, potential clients can apply for food assistance and energy-related State Emergency Relief (SER) online.
Michigan's troubling economic climate has caused an unprecedented number of families to seek help paying their bills or putting food on their tables. The Medicaid caseload for May 2010 was 1,065,575, which represents care for more than 1.8 million recipients. The May food assistance caseload, like most recent months, set a new record high with 884,072 households, representing 1,805,981 individuals. Since January 2000, the caseload (then 258,287) has increased 242 percent.
But with that staggering increase in demand for services come myths that are tarnishing the purpose of the welfare system. The DHS launched a statewide campaign in April 2010 to bust those myths with facts. The "Welfare 101: busting myths about welfare" campaign is an effort to reduce the widespread negative perceptions and show how valuable the welfare system is for so many Michigan residents, as well as to the state's economy.
Additionally, the DHS oversees Michigan's child and adult protective services, foster care, adoptions, juvenile justice, domestic violence, and child support programs. The DHS also licenses adult foster care, child day care and child welfare facilities.
grant (Family Independence Program) and Food Assistance programs through local state offices. In addition, the DHS accepts applications for Medicaid administered by the Michigan Department of Community Health.
Other assistance programs the DHS administers - jointly funded by the federal government and the state - include medical and disability assistance, food stamps (federally funded), and the state medical services program, which is funded by the state of Michigan and the State Emergency Relief Program.
The agency also administers child support collection and client welfare fraud investigation programs for the state of Michigan. The DHS offers a wide range of service programs for the children and families of Michigan, including protective and preventive services for children who are neglected, abused, or exploited, including foster care placement.
The DHS, in May 2010, began heavily recruiting foster and adoptive parents statewide for the 16,000 children in Michigan's foster care system. Of those children in foster care, almost 4,000 are available for adoption because they are state or court wards after their parents' rights were terminated by a court due to abuse or neglect. Efforts include running radio public service announcements and newspaper ads. The spots and ads are part of an Ad Council campaign -- You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent -- developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Adopt Us Kids, which works to raise awareness about the need for foster and adoptive families, and supports states in their own efforts.
In addition, the DHS offers institutional and non-institutional social services for the care, training, and treatment of delinquent and neglected children committed to the agency as state wards and temporary court wards. Services include counseling and casework, adoption, foster care, and the operation of centers for institutional residential care and group homes.
Further, the DHS provides consultation on general child welfare problems to private and public agencies throughout Michigan and offers services through the Interstate Compact.
The DHS provides family services that include referral for employment and training, independent living services providing housing assistance, family planning, counseling, health-related services, volunteer services, refugee assistance, foster family care, transitional services to youths exiting foster care/out-of-home placements, child development and care, migrant services, Native American services, and domestic violence prevention and treatment programs. These services are provided to Michigan families to strengthen family life and to help Michigan families become self-sufficient.
Adult services include protective services, adult placement services, home help services, and assistance with health, transportation, housing, and educational needs.
The DHS further administers the Children’s Trust Fund and the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board.
Facilities include:
, Corrigan was chosen to lead the State's largest executive agency.
Corrigan graduated from the Marygrove College
.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
of state of Michigan, headquartered in Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, that provides public assistance, child and family welfare services. The DHS directs public service and assistance programs through a network of more than 100 county DHS offices statewide.
Applications for assistance can be made in person, by mail, by fax or over the Internet, depending on the program. For example, potential clients can apply for food assistance and energy-related State Emergency Relief (SER) online.
Michigan's troubling economic climate has caused an unprecedented number of families to seek help paying their bills or putting food on their tables. The Medicaid caseload for May 2010 was 1,065,575, which represents care for more than 1.8 million recipients. The May food assistance caseload, like most recent months, set a new record high with 884,072 households, representing 1,805,981 individuals. Since January 2000, the caseload (then 258,287) has increased 242 percent.
But with that staggering increase in demand for services come myths that are tarnishing the purpose of the welfare system. The DHS launched a statewide campaign in April 2010 to bust those myths with facts. The "Welfare 101: busting myths about welfare" campaign is an effort to reduce the widespread negative perceptions and show how valuable the welfare system is for so many Michigan residents, as well as to the state's economy.
Additionally, the DHS oversees Michigan's child and adult protective services, foster care, adoptions, juvenile justice, domestic violence, and child support programs. The DHS also licenses adult foster care, child day care and child welfare facilities.
About DHS
The DHS administers the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy FamiliesTemporary Assistance for Needy Families
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is one of the United States of America's federal assistance programs. It began on July 2, 1997, and succeeded the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, providing cash assistance to indigent American families with dependent children through the...
grant (Family Independence Program) and Food Assistance programs through local state offices. In addition, the DHS accepts applications for Medicaid administered by the Michigan Department of Community Health.
Other assistance programs the DHS administers - jointly funded by the federal government and the state - include medical and disability assistance, food stamps (federally funded), and the state medical services program, which is funded by the state of Michigan and the State Emergency Relief Program.
The agency also administers child support collection and client welfare fraud investigation programs for the state of Michigan. The DHS offers a wide range of service programs for the children and families of Michigan, including protective and preventive services for children who are neglected, abused, or exploited, including foster care placement.
The DHS, in May 2010, began heavily recruiting foster and adoptive parents statewide for the 16,000 children in Michigan's foster care system. Of those children in foster care, almost 4,000 are available for adoption because they are state or court wards after their parents' rights were terminated by a court due to abuse or neglect. Efforts include running radio public service announcements and newspaper ads. The spots and ads are part of an Ad Council campaign -- You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent -- developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Adopt Us Kids, which works to raise awareness about the need for foster and adoptive families, and supports states in their own efforts.
In addition, the DHS offers institutional and non-institutional social services for the care, training, and treatment of delinquent and neglected children committed to the agency as state wards and temporary court wards. Services include counseling and casework, adoption, foster care, and the operation of centers for institutional residential care and group homes.
Further, the DHS provides consultation on general child welfare problems to private and public agencies throughout Michigan and offers services through the Interstate Compact.
The DHS provides family services that include referral for employment and training, independent living services providing housing assistance, family planning, counseling, health-related services, volunteer services, refugee assistance, foster family care, transitional services to youths exiting foster care/out-of-home placements, child development and care, migrant services, Native American services, and domestic violence prevention and treatment programs. These services are provided to Michigan families to strengthen family life and to help Michigan families become self-sufficient.
Adult services include protective services, adult placement services, home help services, and assistance with health, transportation, housing, and educational needs.
The DHS further administers the Children’s Trust Fund and the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board.
Bureau of Juvenile Justice
The Bureau of Juvenile Justice is responsible for the operation of juvenile correctional facilities.Facilities include:
- Bay Pines Center
- W.J. Maxey Boys Training School
- Shawono Center (Boys adjudicated for sex offenses)
Director
Maura Corrigan is the director of the Michigan Department of Human Services. Corrigan was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder on January 14, 2011 at noon. As a former Justice of the Michigan Supreme CourtMichigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
, Corrigan was chosen to lead the State's largest executive agency.
Corrigan graduated from the Marygrove College
Marygrove College
Marygrove College is an independent, Catholic, liberal arts college located in Detroit, Michigan. The college is sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.-History:...
.