By Elena Durnbaugh
Gongwer News Service
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said the Department of Health of Human Services has failed to act in the face of a shortage of state-licensed juvenile beds for youth involved in the justice system.
In a letter to Rep. John Roth (R-Interlochen), who chairs the House Appropriations Human Services Subcommittee , Evans expressed support for Oversight Committee hearings on DHHS and asked that the committee pay special attention to juvenile justice, saying that the department has failed to ensure adequate services.
“DHHS has made minimal operational progress to date and the department’s inaction is directly creating a public safety program in Wayne Country,” Evans said in the letter.
“The lack of progress is depriving delinquent youth of the treatment services they badly need and to which they are legally entitled. It has been two years since our public testimony and the only fair description of the current situation is ‘completely unacceptable.’ DHHS should be held accountable for producing tangible results.”
The letter was also sent to House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township); House Minority Leader Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton Township); Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton), who chairs the House Appropriations Committee ; and Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn), the minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
“This situation in Wayne County is a prime example of why deep-rooted change within MDHHS is an absolute must,” Roth said. “Wayne County was right to reach out for help. MDDHS officials are tasked with supporting and protecting our kids; whether it’s sheer incompetence or willful refusal to do their jobs, they’re completely failing. Not only are they dropping the ball, but they’re pushing away aid from nonprofits who want to create a better situation for these kids. We must hold MDHHS accountable for this crisis. They’re turning their backs on our children and slapping the hands of anyone trying to help.”
Puri did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Evans, one of the state’s top Democrats, said that he wrote to Governor Gretchen Whitmer and members of his administration have written to leaders of DHHS outlining the problems. Further, Evan said Wayne County’s deputy executive and health officer jointly testified at the Senate Judiciary Committee on the issue in March 2023. Still, Evans said, no progress has been made.
The department has systematically driven longstanding nonprofit partners out of Wayne County, Evans said, and has not provided a viable alternative thereby placing the burden on the county.
“During the past several years, we have routinely housed up to 50 or more children at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility who are awaiting out-of-home placements,” he said. “This is in addition to the youth in our facility appropriately awaiting adjudication. It has been more than three years since we raised these issues with DHHS. Unfortunately, despite their numerous promises, efforts to expand out-of-home placement capacity have yielded only minimal benefits.”
Evans requested the House appropriate funds to build new residential capacity and renovate existing facilities to add 200 new beds statewide. He also asked that the House seek to understand how DHHS’s regulatory practices have driven longstanding nonprofit partners from residential placements and kept new partners out and whether KHHS has started to place children who are adjudicated as PA 150 delinquent wards into out-of-state residential placements.
“If DHHS has elected to take this step, we believe this is a very risky and ill-advised strategy,” Evans said. “We are far more supportive of steps to invest in reviving the state’s once rich network of local residential placement agencies.”
Finally, Evans asked that the Legislature schedule ongoing oversight hearings to ensure DHHS is making progress to add new residential beds and reform its administrative practices.
“It is time to take purposeful action and hold leaders accountable for resolving this issue,” Evans said.
Jason Smith, executive director of Michigan Center for Youth Justice, said that although there has been a reduction in the number of beds across the state during the last few years, it’s important not to seek more beds for the sake of having them.
“Framing it as we just need more beds for beds’ sake takes it away from a conversation about what’s best for kids,” he said. “From our perspective, some of the facilities that were closed weren’t providing quality treatment …I do think there is a need for conservations around out of home placement… given that a lot of communities are moving toward community-based care.”
It’s important to have a data-informed conversation around what’s needed, Smith said.
“We may find a situation where the existing beds are enough,” he said. “By really digging into the reasons why kids need it in the first place … you’re actually going to improve the quality of care.”
The goal is to provide kids with treatment so that they can become healthy and productive adults, Smith said, not to treat out-of-home placement like a prison sentence where they are being removed from society for a period of time.
“It has to be a full conversation that frames out-of-home placement within a continuum of care,” he said. “That’s a productive conversation.”
DHHS said it meets weekly with Wayne County to discuss youth placement, staffing and other licensing topics.
“We were surprised to see this letter since since none of these concerns were raised at any point in last week’s regular meeting with county,” Erin Stover, a spokesperson for the department, said in a statement. “MDHHS continues to work with our partners to ensure all youth and families involved in Michigan’s juvenile justice system have access to the full continuum of rehabilitation services in a safe, supportive and respectful environment that honors the youth and family voice.”
The Human Services Subcommittee is set to meet Tuesday to hear presentations on state Juvenile Justice Services.
Gongwer News Service
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said the Department of Health of Human Services has failed to act in the face of a shortage of state-licensed juvenile beds for youth involved in the justice system.
In a letter to Rep. John Roth (R-Interlochen), who chairs the House Appropriations Human Services Subcommittee , Evans expressed support for Oversight Committee hearings on DHHS and asked that the committee pay special attention to juvenile justice, saying that the department has failed to ensure adequate services.
“DHHS has made minimal operational progress to date and the department’s inaction is directly creating a public safety program in Wayne Country,” Evans said in the letter.
“The lack of progress is depriving delinquent youth of the treatment services they badly need and to which they are legally entitled. It has been two years since our public testimony and the only fair description of the current situation is ‘completely unacceptable.’ DHHS should be held accountable for producing tangible results.”
The letter was also sent to House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township); House Minority Leader Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton Township); Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton), who chairs the House Appropriations Committee ; and Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn), the minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
“This situation in Wayne County is a prime example of why deep-rooted change within MDHHS is an absolute must,” Roth said. “Wayne County was right to reach out for help. MDDHS officials are tasked with supporting and protecting our kids; whether it’s sheer incompetence or willful refusal to do their jobs, they’re completely failing. Not only are they dropping the ball, but they’re pushing away aid from nonprofits who want to create a better situation for these kids. We must hold MDHHS accountable for this crisis. They’re turning their backs on our children and slapping the hands of anyone trying to help.”
Puri did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Evans, one of the state’s top Democrats, said that he wrote to Governor Gretchen Whitmer and members of his administration have written to leaders of DHHS outlining the problems. Further, Evan said Wayne County’s deputy executive and health officer jointly testified at the Senate Judiciary Committee on the issue in March 2023. Still, Evans said, no progress has been made.
The department has systematically driven longstanding nonprofit partners out of Wayne County, Evans said, and has not provided a viable alternative thereby placing the burden on the county.
“During the past several years, we have routinely housed up to 50 or more children at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility who are awaiting out-of-home placements,” he said. “This is in addition to the youth in our facility appropriately awaiting adjudication. It has been more than three years since we raised these issues with DHHS. Unfortunately, despite their numerous promises, efforts to expand out-of-home placement capacity have yielded only minimal benefits.”
Evans requested the House appropriate funds to build new residential capacity and renovate existing facilities to add 200 new beds statewide. He also asked that the House seek to understand how DHHS’s regulatory practices have driven longstanding nonprofit partners from residential placements and kept new partners out and whether KHHS has started to place children who are adjudicated as PA 150 delinquent wards into out-of-state residential placements.
“If DHHS has elected to take this step, we believe this is a very risky and ill-advised strategy,” Evans said. “We are far more supportive of steps to invest in reviving the state’s once rich network of local residential placement agencies.”
Finally, Evans asked that the Legislature schedule ongoing oversight hearings to ensure DHHS is making progress to add new residential beds and reform its administrative practices.
“It is time to take purposeful action and hold leaders accountable for resolving this issue,” Evans said.
Jason Smith, executive director of Michigan Center for Youth Justice, said that although there has been a reduction in the number of beds across the state during the last few years, it’s important not to seek more beds for the sake of having them.
“Framing it as we just need more beds for beds’ sake takes it away from a conversation about what’s best for kids,” he said. “From our perspective, some of the facilities that were closed weren’t providing quality treatment …I do think there is a need for conservations around out of home placement… given that a lot of communities are moving toward community-based care.”
It’s important to have a data-informed conversation around what’s needed, Smith said.
“We may find a situation where the existing beds are enough,” he said. “By really digging into the reasons why kids need it in the first place … you’re actually going to improve the quality of care.”
The goal is to provide kids with treatment so that they can become healthy and productive adults, Smith said, not to treat out-of-home placement like a prison sentence where they are being removed from society for a period of time.
“It has to be a full conversation that frames out-of-home placement within a continuum of care,” he said. “That’s a productive conversation.”
DHHS said it meets weekly with Wayne County to discuss youth placement, staffing and other licensing topics.
“We were surprised to see this letter since since none of these concerns were raised at any point in last week’s regular meeting with county,” Erin Stover, a spokesperson for the department, said in a statement. “MDHHS continues to work with our partners to ensure all youth and families involved in Michigan’s juvenile justice system have access to the full continuum of rehabilitation services in a safe, supportive and respectful environment that honors the youth and family voice.”
The Human Services Subcommittee is set to meet Tuesday to hear presentations on state Juvenile Justice Services.
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