To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Rhonda Ihm, Family Division Administrator
title
RE: Approval of a grant award from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, in the amount of $206,250.00, for the purpose of providing pre-petition and post-adjudication ancillary legal services in child protective proceedings; the budget for this grant is attached
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval to accept the FY25 Child & Parent Legal Representation Grant, in the amount of $206,250.00 from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services for the purpose of providing pre-petition and post-adjudication ancillary legal services in child protective proceedings.
BACKGROUND:
In September of 2019, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the Title IV-E Child and Parent Legal Representation (CPLR) Grant, which would allow the department to pass through Title IV-E administrative dollars to support high quality child and parent legal representation in child protective proceedings. This grant allows MDHHS to make a title IV-E reimbursement claim for legal services provided by attorneys representing parents and/or children in child protective proceedings where at least one child is placed in out of home placement (foster care).
DISCUSSION:
Children come to the attention of the child protection system for many reasons. Too often, their entry into foster care could be avoided if their caretakers had resources to address legal problems that put their children at risk. The grant will be used to provide pre-petition ancillary legal services for indigent parents who at-risk of becoming involved in child protective proceedings or post-adjudication ancillary legal services that could expedite the resolution of their case. Legal services may be provided in areas such as family law, fair housing, government benefits, education, employment, or individual rights.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
IMPACT O...
Click here for full text