2011-2012 Strategic Plan

The Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) 2011-2012 Strategic Plan represents our vision of the future for vulnerable children and adults in Michigan and our mission in helping achieve that end. This commitment is articulated in six strategic goals that declare the outcomes DHS must reach in order to achieve our mission.

Vision
Compassion. Protection. Independence.

Mission
Improving the quality of life in Michigan by providing services to vulnerable children and adults that will strengthen the community and enable families and individuals to move toward independence.

Overview of 6 Strategic Goals

Goal 1: Provide uncompromising care for the most vulnerable children in Michigan, thereby complying with the Children's Rights Consent Decree and, ultimately, removing the decree's external control over child welfare in Michigan.
This includes ensuring the quality of our Child Protective Services by maintaining adequate staffing and resources, removing barriers to adoption, and achieving performance goals for child welfare that place Michigan in the top tier of all states.

Goal 2: Aggressively develop welfare-to-work initiatives that enable families to move towards independence.
This includes enhancing work participation, ensuring timely review of cases deferred from work activities, and promoting statutory changes that reduce welfare dependency. Aggressive case management will help to ensure that clients achieve independence through employment by providing them with valuable resources.

Goal 3: Develop measurable standards through continuous planning for high-value service delivery.
Analyze and review data regularly to identify trends and use this data to improve proactive decision-making for the future, thus minimizing reactive decision-making.

Goal 4: Expand service delivery capacity through partnership development.
Engage private, tribal, foundation and non-profit partners in improving assessments of children's needs, developing systems of care to achieve those needs, ensuring appropriate placements, and maximizing the resources available to vulnerable families.

Goal 5: Demonstrate fiscal responsibility through a) department operating overhead cost reductions and b) revenue enhancement from private, local and federal state partners.
This includes reducing overhead costs such as brick-and-mortar and operating costs, maximizing DHS workforce productivity through process improvements, pursuing grant opportunities, and leveraging dollars where possible through collaboration.

Goal 6: Attract, develop and retain high-quality employees.
We hold our employees in high regard and it is imperative that we ensure they have the necessary tools to deliver high-quality, customer-focused services in a safe work environment.