Aug. 19, 2010

Michigan Department of Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed today announced that eligible children statewide will receive a $79 back-to-school clothing allowance and also that the department is making an estimated $6.6 million investment in a child abuse and neglect prevention pilot program in five urban communities.

The announcements were made as part of the department's "Helping Families 101: Get ready 2 learn" statewide campaign that focuses on the combined efforts of DHS and its partners to meet families' necessities.

"We can - and do - provide many more resources and support to meet families' needs so children can concentrate on learning," Ahmed said. "The clothing allowance is designed to help children start school feeling good about themselves and about going back to school.

"It's an important resource that boosts the child's self esteem and helps meet the family's needs, so the children can reach their full potential."

The clothing allowance is a benefit to families who qualify for the Family Independence Program. The average family receiving this cash assistance program is a single parent with two children. They receive help for a short time; typically for less than two years, not a lifetime, Ahmed added.

The parent in that family probably works part-time, earning minimum wage. Between part-time income and benefits, the family may live on $700 to $800 a month. This places the family at about 50 percent of the federal poverty income guideline, or about $1,526 a month for a family of three.

DHS local offices have a long tradition of helping children and families head back to school to learn. It is not uncommon for local office staff to sponsor or participate in a local community program to provide children in foster care or local school-aged kids with classroom supplies or offer back-to-school orientation to address important issues.

But this year, the state's ailing economy means the need is higher. That's why DHS launched a statewide campaign today to share resources that may help ease that burden so all children have the opportunity to start school on the right foot and with a positive attitude.

For example, the child abuse and prevention pilot programs will provide families in Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids and Pontiac with additional support so their children can remain in their homes.

These services will give families the tools - including home visits, parent education and transportation - they need to parent children safely.

Child safety is a top priority of DHS, and that also includes safety in their dating relationships.

As many as one-third of high school and college-aged youth experience violence in an intimate relationship during their dating years. And, women between 16- and 24-years-old are the most vulnerable to intimate partner violence.

"Every day, thousands of teens across the country experience the emotional and physical trauma of dating violence," Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board Executive Director Debi Cain said. "Michigan educators can help by knowing the danger signs and offering helpful resources." Resources are available at www.michigan.gov/domesticviolence.

Additionally, the campaign will strive to educate families about another significant safety net: Child support. In fiscal year 2008, 567,000 children were entitled to receive child support. Of those, only 70 percent received payments with an average monthly payment of $246, said Marilyn Stephen, director of the DHS Office of Child Support.

"Child support is an extremely important safety net that children deserve," Stephen said. "Child support is 30 percent of household income for poor families who receive child support. Although people are struggling in this economy, studies show that child support affects child well-being in many ways.

"Children who receive child support do better in school and experience less child poverty."

So do our youngest children whose needs are met early on, said Judy Samelson, CEO of the Early Childhood Investment Corp.

"Kindergarten teachers tell us one third of incoming students won't be ready to do the work," Samelson said. "Some will have physical issues, some emotional or social troubles; some simply won't have been prepared educationally because they didn't get preschool or quality child care. And those are the kids who are at risk of falling behind and staying behind. As a state, we can't afford that.

"Kids who start out behind tend to stay behind and that lack of success can carry over into adulthood. Our best bet, then, to assure a strong, future workforce is to focus on the needs of children between birth and 5."

For more information about Helping Families 101: Get ready 2 learn, please visit www.michigan.gov/helpingfamilies101 . Follow DHS on Twitter @MichiganDHS or become a fan at www.facebook.com/MichiganDHS.