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Our migrant program works with a number of organizations to provide services for Michigan’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
A federal program which helps persons admitted into the U.S. as refugees to become self-sufficient after their arrival.
Universal caseload, or task-based processing, is a different way of handling public assistance cases.
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MDHHS and partners support a continuum of prevention services. The continuum is inclusive of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention activities. Visit this page to learn more.
Information about injury and violence prevention programs in Michigan
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Information, sources of data and resources to support Firearm Injury Prevention efforts across the state of Michigan.
Medical Resources for Child Protection
Serves as liaison and provides funding to Michigan’s 45 local health departments.
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Home to an array of public health programs, initiatives and interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of women, infants, families and communities.
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MDHHS and partners support a continuum of prevention services. The continuum is inclusive of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention activities.
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Primary Prevention activities are directed at the general population and attempt to stop abuse or neglect before it occurs and prevent the need for involvement with child welfare. |
| Secondary Prevention activities are to prevent abuse or neglect before it occurs and prevent the need for initial or deeper involvement with child welfare. | |
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Tertiary Prevention consists of activities focused on families that have a confirmed abuse or neglect investigation to prevent recurrence of abuse or neglect and re-entry into the child welfare system. |
Many of the services we offer at MDHHS fluctuate between the different prevention types. Below, we’ve classified them within their most common type, such as FFPSA services in secondary, family preservation services in tertiary, and so on. Use the expansion functionality to read overviews of many of the services we offer at MDHHS.
Tertiary prevention consists of activities focused on families that have a confirmed abuse or neglect investigation to prevent recurrence of abuse or neglect and re-entry into the child welfare system. These prevention programs may include services such as:
The following is an overview of the different tertiary prevention services available in Michigan:
MiFamily Together
MiFamily Together is a tertiary prevention program piloted in several Michigan counties beginning on October 1, 2024. MiFamily Together will have broader eligibility and flexibility to serve families as their needs change which benefits families by eliminating the need to participate in multiple programs. Families participating in MiFamily Together will work with one team and one service provider to address child maltreatment concerns while increasing family wellbeing and economic prosperity. Other advantages of MiFamily Together include:
Families First
Families First of Michigan (FFM) is a state-wide, 28-day crisis intervention program that mitigates abuse/neglect concerns through intensive services including Cognitive-Behavioral intervention, Solution-Focused Brief Intervention, skill building, community resource networking, assistance with concrete needs, and use of Protective Factors Framework® and the Protective Factors Survey-2 to identify risk and build upon family strengths.
High to intensive risk families with a confirmed case of abuse or neglect may be referred to FFM if it appears a petition is inevitable at some point if the family does not receive intensive stabilization services. In-home court wards may also be referred to FFM. FFM also provides reunification services if Family Reunification Program is not available.
FFM provides an average of 10 hours of face-to-face contact with families in their homes and communities. Each family receives four weeks of services with up to two additional weeks provided for some families to firm up goal completion.
Family Reunification Program (FRP)
Family Reunification Program (FRP) is available in several counties and provides services to families preparing for reunification or families where the children have recently returned home.
FRP may be provided up to 30 days prior to reunification or within 30 days following reunification. Each family receives up to four months of service with up to two additional months of service to complete time-consuming goals or address new safety/risk concerns.
FRP services include a Team Leader who provides therapeutic activities and a Family Worker who utilize skill building, and community resource navigation. Solution-Focused Brief Intervention, Protective Factors Framework and Protective Factors Survey are employed by both workers.
Families Together Building Solutions – Pathways to Potential (FTBS-P2P)
Families Together Building Solutions – Pathways to Potential (FTBS-P2P) is available in several counties and provides services to families with low to moderate risk for abuse or neglect. FTBS may be appropriate for higher risk cases if approved by the family preservation specialist. FTBS is sometimes used as a step-down program after families complete FFM and need less intensive services to avoid future CPS involvement.
FTBS provides an average of three hours of face-to-face service per week, for up to three months. Families who need additional help may be approved for up to three additional months of service if goal completion is time consuming, or new risk/safety related goals are identified. FTBS may be used for reunification services if FFM, and FRP are not available.
FTBS uses tools and interventions including Solution-Focused Brief Intervention, skill building, and community resource navigation as well as Protective Factors Framework and Protective Factors Survey.
Substance Use Disorder Family Support Program (SUDFSP)
Substance Use Disorder Family Support Program is a home based program that provides a person-centered intervention and support for families when a parent is alcohol or drug affected or has a co-occurring disorder. SUDFSP seeks to reduce future maltreatment, prevent placement in foster care, and/or increase reunification.
MDHHS offers two versions of the SUDFSP program:
SUDFSP
SUDFSP with Motivational Interviewing
Parent Partners
Parent Partners (PP) is available in Wayne, Macomb, Oakland, Genesee, Jackson, and Washtenaw counties.
Parent Partner - Peer Recovery Coach is available in Genesee, Jackson, and Washtenaw counties.
PP employs carefully vetted paraprofessionals who achieved successful closure of their CPS or foster care case. Although historically a reunification service, PP recently expanded to provide parent mentoring services to parents with a CPS case. Each family receives face-to-face contact in their homes and communities and services last up to six months with the option to extend with approval.
Parent Partners cannot provide direct services to children, but they do provide a plethora of services to adult caregivers including, community resource navigation, social support networking, foster care/CPS system navigation, and skill building.
Parent Partner - Peer Recovery Coach is a new program offering that includes CPS Category I and II cases where substance use/misuse is an indicator. In addition to parent partner intervention skills, the peer recovery coaches will also have personal experience with substance use and be in recovery for at least two years. The coaches will be Michigan certified peer recovery coaches or working toward becoming certified.
Secondary prevention activities are to prevent abuse or neglect before it occurs and prevent the need for initial or deeper involvement with child welfare. Populations include those that have one or more risk factors associated with abuse or neglect, such as but not limited to low-income families, caregiver substance use, domestic violence, young parental age, parental mental health concerns, parental or child special needs, and MDHHS Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment identifies a future risk of harm. Programs may target services to caregivers or families that have a high incidence of any or all these risk factors. Approaches to secondary prevention programs might include:
The following is an overview of some of the different secondary prevention services available in Michigan:
SafeCare
SafeCare is an in-home, behavioral parenting program that promotes positive parent-child interactions, informed caregiver response to childhood illness and injury, and a safe home environment. SafeCare is designed for parents and caregivers of children birth through five who are either at risk for or have a history of child neglect and/or physical abuse. The program aims to reduce child abuse/neglect. The SafeCare curriculum is extremely structured, with pre-planned lessons and assessments. The curriculum is delivered by trained and certified providers.
The curriculum includes three modules:
Face to Face Requirements and Program Duration:
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based, client-centered method designed to promote behavior change and improve physiological, psychological, and lifestyle outcomes. Motivational Interviewing aims to identify ambivalence for change and increase motivation by helping clients progress through the stages of change. It aims to do this by encouraging clients to consider their personal goals and how their current behaviors may compete with attainment of those goals.
MI has been shown to be an effective intervention when used by itself or together with a combination of other treatments to reduce risk of maltreatment and placement into out of home care.
MDHHS child welfare staff, PAFC child welfare staff, and some Family Preservation contractors are trained and utilizing Motivational Interviewing as part of their day-to-day service array and MiTEAM Practice Model.
Evidence Based Home Visiting
FFPSA has allowed MDHHS & the Home Visiting Unit to expand home visiting services across the state, including programs Parents As Teachers (PAT), Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), and Healthy Families America (HFA).
We have also expanded programs utilizing Healthy Moms Healthy Babies funding. These expansions service families with substance affected infants and/or pregnant people with substance misuse.
To locate all home visiting programs across the state, including these expansions, please visit the Michigan Home Visiting website:
Index - Michigan Home Visiting Programs (mihomevisiting.com)
Video: Home Visiting 101
Description: Home Visiting Programs in Michigan include Healthy Families America (HFA), Parents As Teachers (PAT), Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), Family Spirit (FS), and more. This video provides an overview of home visiting services and how they can support families.
Handouts Mentioned: Slide Deck; Home Visiting in Michigan
Video: Making Voluntary Referrals to Home Visiting Programs
Description: Home Visiting Programs in Michigan include Healthy Families America (HFA), Parents As Teachers (PAT), Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), Family Spirit (FS), and more. This video reviews techniques and conversation points to use when engaging families in these services. Home visiting programs are voluntary and are designed to support the family’s needs related to raising young children, whether that’s parental support, new tips and tricks, guidance, or something else.
Handouts Mentioned: Slide Deck
BH Recovery & Substance Use Services
MiSUD Locator
Visit the MiSUD Locator to find substance use disorder services and providers across the state
MiSUD Locator
Behavioral Health Recovery and Substance Use
Visit the Behavioral Health Recovery and Substance Use site for information related to services available.
Substance Use, Gambling and Epidemiology
Primary prevention activities are directed at the general population and attempt to stop abuse or neglect before it occurs and prevent the need for involvement with child welfare. All members of the community have access to and may benefit from these services. Primary prevention activities with a universal focus seek to raise the awareness of the general public, service providers, and decision-makers about the scope and problems associated with child abuse or neglect. Universal approaches to primary prevention might include:
The following is an overview of some of the different primary prevention services available in Michigan:
211
Find Help - Michigan 2-1-1 (mi211.org)
MiBridges
Connections to resources are available on MiBridges – log in to your account and select Find Resources to search by topic.
https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/s/isd-find-community-partners?language=en_US
Early On
Early On® Michigan
https://www.1800earlyon.org/
Safe Sleep
Safe Sleep Resources by County (michigan.gov)
Children’s Trust Michigan
Children’s Trust Michigan
Kinship Care Resource Center
About the Kinship Care Resource Center | Kinship Care Resource Center (msu.edu)
Pathways to Potential
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/pathways-to-potential
Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) is a federal legislation to allow title IV-E spending in secondary and primary prevention services. Michigan’s 5-year Prevention Plan was approved with a begin date of 10/01/2021. The federal funding offers reimbursement to the state for Evidence Based Programs.
MiFamily Together
MiFamily Together is a developing, hybrid family preservation service model that will replace the current, fragmented, central office administered family preservation service array by 2027. MiFamily Together will have broader eligibility and flexibility to serve families as their needs change including prevention, preservation, and reunification services of any intensity of need, under one program. Families participating in MiFamily Together will work with one team and one service provider to address abuse or neglect concerns instead of referrals to multiple programs and/or service providers as their needs change. Other advantages of MiFamily Together include:
Michigan families are stronger when supported with the intent of staying intact.
MiFamily, Stronger Together is the open communication and collaboration within MDHHS structures (including private and external partners) to establish and maintain a prevention-oriented child and family well-being system. A comprehensive child and family well-being system aims to strengthen all families, connecting them to resources and support they need within their own community. Support that can prevent crisis, mitigate risks, and prevent child abuse and neglect.
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