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Child Welfare Medical and Behavioral Health Resources
Welcome to the Child Welfare Medical and Behavioral Health Resources webpages, formerly know as Fostering Mental Health. The information in this section is a collaborative effort between MDHHS and many partner organizations across the State of Michigan. Our goal is to provide child welfare health information which focuses on three main ideas: safety, permanency, and wellbeing. Whether you're a casual visitor, parent, foster parent, case manager, child welfare professional, or medical provider; there will be useful information to discover in the sections below.
About Us: The Permanency and Wellbeing Unit plays a critical role in advancing the safety, stability, and long-term success of children and youth in Michigan’s foster care system. Our work is centered on ensuring that every child receives the care, support, and services they need to thrive—whether that means timely access to health evaluations, ethical oversight of psychotropic medications, or achieving permanency through adoption or guardianship.
We operate at the intersection of policy, practice, and partnership—translating state and federal mandates into actionable strategies that improve outcomes for children. Our team collaborates closely with local offices, private agencies, and community mental health providers to ensure services are not only compliant with standards like MiSEP, but also responsive to the real-world needs of children and families.

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Conference and Exhibition Schedule 2024
State of Reform - 2024 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference
The Lansing Center – Lansing, MI
April 4th, 2024
State of Reform Conferences: Where solutions begin.Michigan Family Medicine Conference & Expo
The Grand Hotel – Mackinac Island, MI
July 13th – 16th, 2024
MIAAP 2024 Annual Conference
The Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites – Kalamazoo, MI
September 6th – 7th, 2024
MPCA 2024 Annual Conference
Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites – Kalamazoo, MI
September 23rd – 25th, 2024
CMHA 2024 Annual Fall Conference
Grand Traverse Resort – Acme, MI
October 21st – 22nd, 2024
Conferences & Training • CMHAM - Community Mental Health Association of Michigan