Prevention Services

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has an array of prevention services available across the state. These prevention services are utilized to support and assist families.

MDHHS has three Prevention Pathways to support families:

Prevention Services for Families - Primary or secondary prevention types - services provided through public sources and MDHHS funding.

This prevention services pathway is available in select counties across the state (where staffing and funding are available). This prevention services pathway is used to support families before a crisis point, before a CPS complaint is made, or for extra supports after a closed investigation. Services offered during a Prevention Services for Families case are dependant upon county availability but may include community services, Families Together Building Solutions, and other services, when eligible and available.

See the section below called "Public Services Resource Information" for services which can be accessed by anyone.

Where available: Alcona, Bay, Calhoun, Clare, Genesee, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lake, Lapeer, Lenawee, Macomb, Mason, Mecosta, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Ottawa, Roscommon, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne

[link to local office contact information]

Family First Prevention Services - Secondary or tertiary prevention types - services provided through Title IV-E funding, other MDHHS funding, or public sources.

This prevention services pathway is supported by federal funding and is available in select counties across the state (where the services expansions were selected to start, with a goal of becoming statewide). This prevention services pathway is used to support families before a CPS complaint is made or assigned, for extra supports throughout a child welfare case, or to provide additional supports to reunified families, and also to support youth in foster care who are pregnant or parenting.

*Please see the section below called "Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Information" for additional information on location of services

Family Preservation and Reunification Services - Tertiary prevention type - services provided through MDHHS funding and other public sources.

This is a prevention pathway in which services are offered to families after an event of abuse or neglect has occurred. These prevention services have a goal of preventing a removal or re-removal and to support the family to prevent future maltreatment/cases with child welfare.

Depending on availability within the county, services could include Families First of Michigan, Families Together Building Solutions, HomeBuilders, and/or connections with community services.

Prevention Information for Families

If you are looking for service information or support from MDHHS and are interested in learning about prevention services or working with a Prevention Worker, please contact your local office.

[link to local office contact information]

Prevention Information for Private Providers and Stakeholders

Private Agency partners are vital in connecting families with services that will address needs and barriers. Services available through Family First Prevention Services, through Family Preservation and Reunification Services, through contracted services, or through other avenues.

When a family is eligible for a service and resides in an area where the service is offered, the private agency partner may refer to the service. Please connect with your MDHHS/Purchase of Service Monitor or email MDHHS-FFPSAPrevention@michigan.gov for support.

Training Resources:

MiSACWIS Case Services Series (in LMS)

MiSACWIS Prevention Enhancement (in LMS)

Prevention Forms:

If you are a Private Agency Foster Care Worker looking to make a referral to a IV-E Prevention Service, please complete the corresponding referral form. The form can be located on the Doing Business with MDHHS forms page.

DHS-1327, Prevention Services - Family Goals and Progress Tracker

DHS-1328, Referral for Prevention Services

Home Visiting Referral Form - MDHHS-5973

Authorization to Release Confidential Information - Home Visiting Program - DHS-1555-HV

Family First Prevention Services

Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) is a Federal Legislation which was enacted in February 2018. This Legislation allows states to use Federal Title IV-E funding in new ways. The goal is to provide services, to keep children safely in their homes, and to prevent the need for removal. FFPSA creates a spotlight on maintaining children in the home with their family, emphasizes the use of evidence based programs, and limits the use of Federal funding when placing children out of the home.

Michigan's utilization of FFPSA and the Title IV-E Prevention funding is a collaboration of work between several departments to initiate the expansion of services throughout the state. These services are referenced as FFPSA Title IV-E Prevention Services in policy and protocol.

To be eligible for FFPSA Title IV-E Prevention Services a child of a family must meet at least one candidacy definition. A Private Agency Partner or MDHHS caseworker must document the candidacy information in the electronic case record. If you think you or a family you are working with may be eligible for these services and you would like to participate in the services listed below, please connect with the MDHHS office in your area or with your active caseworker.

[link to local office contact information]

Candidacy Definititions:

In foster care or Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care and pregnant or parenting
A child whose adoption or guardianship arrangement is at risk of disruption or dissolution
A child of a parent who had been in foster care until the parent reaches age 26
An infant born exposed to substances
A child with delinquent behaviors under the supervision of MDHHS
A child who was in a foster care placement and was returned to their parents or other relatives
A child at imminent risk of entering foster care as otherwise determined by a Tribe
A child for whom abuse/neglect has not been confirmed but moderate, high, or intensive risk for abuse/neglect exists
A victim of confirmed abuse/neglect and siblings residing in the household

Services and Locations:

Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) - locations pending under this prevention type

Family Spirit

Locations pending under this prevention type - to locate providers with other funding, please go to [home visiting website] and enter your zip code

Healthy Families America (HFA)

Locations - Alcona, Alpena, Chippewa, Kalamaoo, Lake, Luce, Mackinac, Montmorency, Wayne

*To locate providers in other areas with other funding types, please go to [home visiting website] and enter your zip code

HomeBuilders

Locations - Calhoun, Jackson, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Wayne

*This service is currently only available through Family Preservation and Reunification Services - please connect with your current caseworker to discuss this service.

Motivational Interviewing

Locations - Clare, Isabella, Livingston, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ogemaw, Roscommon, select PARC providers

MultiSystemic Therapy (MST) - locations pending under this prevention type - to locate providers with other funding, please go to [MST website]

Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)

Locations - Wayne

*To locate providers in other areas with other funding types, please go to [home visiting website] and enter your zip code

Parents As Teachers (PAT)

Locations - Calhoun, Ingham

*To locate providers in other areas with other funding types, please go to [home visiting website] and enter your zip code

SafeCare

Locations pending contract awards

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Locations pending under this prevention type, TF-CBT may be available through the local Community Mental Health [community mental health website]

Child Welfare Community Services Analysts have been hired (one in each BSC) to assist in the collaboration and facilitation of FFPSA, service arrays, and data monitoring.

MDHHS Prevention Plan

Michigan FFPSA Information

Federal FFPSA Information

FFPSA Press Releases and Newsletters:

MiFamily Stronger Together News January 2023

MiFamily Stronger Together News October 2022

Newsletter July 2021

MiFamily Stronger Together News June 2022

MiFamily Stronger Together News August 2022