East Michigan News

State Representative Tom Kunse, a member of the House Ethics and Oversight Committee, has called for urgent action following reports of failures within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) foster care system. The MDHHS has been under federal court oversight since 2006, when it faced a class-action lawsuit alleging mistreatment of children in its care.

"It’s frightening to consider how many kids may have been failed by the broken system in the 18 years since MDHHS was originally sued for negligence," said Rep. Kunse. "MDHHS is clearly incapable of creating meaningful change. The Oversight Committee must demand answers and explore solutions for these failures. This is urgent. We’re not talking about tax policy; we’re talking about a state department failing vulnerable kids."

Under the leadership of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, MDHHS entered into a new agreement in 2019 to address the specific requirements of the foster care system. However, the department has consistently failed to meet its goals since 2017, despite significant reforms implemented under former Governor Rick Snyder.

Recent reporting by the Detroit News has revealed alarming statistics. From July to December 2022, the state had insufficient available foster homes and could not accommodate sibling groups, children with disabilities, and older children. Only 37% of children were reunified with their parents during this period, falling far short of the federal goal of 60%.

In response to these findings, the House Ethics and Oversight Committee convened last Thursday for its first meeting since June. However, Rep. Kunse expressed concerns that the committee's agenda did not prioritize the pressing issue of the mistreatment of children in the foster care system.

"Just because the Oversight Committee is meeting doesn't mean the agenda includes anything significant," stated Rep. Kunse. "Minor oversight matters will need consideration in the future, but they cannot continue to take priority over issues like mistreatment of children in the foster care system."

The committee, chaired by Representative Erin Byrnes, is scheduled to hold another meeting this Thursday, January 25th. However, it remains to be seen whether the urgent matter of the MDHHS foster care failures will be addressed.

The revelations about the MDHHS foster care system highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reform. With the lives and well-being of vulnerable children at stake, it is imperative that the Oversight Committee takes immediate action to address the failures and ensure that a robust and effective foster care system is put in place.