One way to strengthen Michigan is to ensure the integrity of its families. Children have a right to their families, and Michigan's commitment to this ideal has earned us nationwide recognition for our family preservation efforts. Family preservation is designed to keep troubled families together and avoid unnecessary out-of-home placement.

The real problem lies in the fact that the state is a good provider of care for children--but not a very good parent. Moving children out of the home instead of working to keep families together just adds to the problem rather than fixing it. It also has potentially damaging psychological effects on a child. The outcomes for children who are removed from their families can be grim. National data has found that as adults, children who grew up in foster care are:

• Ten time more likely than other adults to be homeless.
• Eight time more likely to be in a mental health facility.
• Six time more likely to be incarcerated.
• Five times more likely to collect public assistance.
• Three times more likely to be a highschool dropout.

Michigan's special family-preservation services strengthen families. Many families are receptive to change and find strength and stability in programs which strive to help families solve their own problems through the resources in their local communities. Children in homes where domestic violence occurs are at greater risk of abuse and neglect. Increasing collaboration between domestic violence and family-preservation programs to identify and address this source of violence will result in a more stable and safer environment for these at-risk children.

Families First

Families First is guided by a simple principle: remove the risk rather than remove the children. This innovative program works with "at-risk" families--those in danger of having one or more children removed from the home due to abuse, neglect, or delinquency. Each social worker deals with only two families at a time and is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 4 to 6 weeks, helping families learn new skills so they are able to cope with the problems which led to the risk. The objective of Families First is to intervene and help, not to interrupt or interfere. Families become self-sufficient as they define their own goals, create their own solutions, and stay together as long as the children are no longer "at-risk."

The safety of Michigan's children is our first and foremost concern, and it is our goal never to compromise that principle. Michigan's Families First program has not experienced a single death or serious injury of a child. On the contrary, since its inception in 1988, Families First has met with remarkable success. Approximately 80 percent of the families which completed the program were still together a year later. By October 1, 1992, Families First is expected to have served over 15,000 children in nearly 7,000 families. Currently operating in 68 Michigan counties, Families First will extend to all 83 counties by September of 1992.

Families First is also a practical alternative to steadily increasing foster care costs and rising caseloads. Foster care placement costs approximately $10,000 per child per year, and institutional placements can cost as much as $55,000 to $60,000. Families First, by comparison, is cost effective averaging $4,500 per family.

Interagency Collaboration

So certain are we of the power of the Families First flexible model of family preservation that six new pilot programs will be implemented next year to more fully coordinate family services. DSS, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Mental Health will coordinate services to families to solve the problems that could lead to family breakdown. Expanded services will be provided to mentally and emotionally disturbed children and their families to improve family functioning ant to prevent out-of-home placement.

The Departments of Social Services and Mental Health will expand the Judson Center's Living in Family Environment (LIFE) program. This award-winning program places children with developmental disabilities with trained public-assistance families who provide their care in return for an annual salary and medical benefits to enable them to leave public assistance.

In-Home Care Services

Based on the same Families First/family preservation philosophy, the In-Home Care Service program serves delinquent youth. Funded by DSS and probate courts, intensive in-home services provide opportunities for modification of behavior and attitudes to maintain family structure and to avoid institutional placement. With the assistance of a youth's family, school, local government, and human service agency, keeping troubled youth in their homes while they are undergoing treatment can help eliminate delinquent behavior. Family networks are supported as the youth participate in various programs and services including basic education with high school completion possibilities; career exploration and on-the-job training opportunities; family, group, peer, and individual counseling; challenge activities; family support groups; recreational and vocational opportunities; specialized counseling in areas such as sexual abuse, substance abuse, employment, and parent effectiveness; tutorial/mentoring services; parent-aide services; and other services aimed at rehabilitating youths in their own homes and communities.

Family Reunification