MDHHS selected to present teaming model at Child Welfare League of America National Conference

MDHHS is rebuilding Michigan’s child welfare system including how services work together to support and strengthen families

LANSING, Mich. - Today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced that it has been selected to present a workshop on its innovative Children Services Administration (CSA) teaming model at the Child Welfare League of America’s 2026 national conference.

For its 2026 national conference, the Child Welfare League of America called on advocates, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders to address topics that help move the field forward, grounded in values and principles, focused on action and practical strategies, and driven by hope.

“The CSA teaming model is a bold step forward in how we serve Michigan children and families and we look forward to sharing our success with other states during the conference,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “This innovative approach strengthens collaboration, improves outcomes, reduces employee burnout and helps make Michigan the best place to have kids and raise a family.”

Launched in March 2025, the CSA teaming model is a team-based approach to child welfare case management that gives employees clear and distinct roles and encourages collaboration to provide support for families from the moment they enter the child welfare system. The core team includes investigators, case managers, supervisors, family resource specialists, and family team specialists who work alongside other specialized CSA roles to seamlessly address a family’s specific needs as a team, whether economic, educational or administrative. The new teaming model replaces the previous model in which a single caseworker handled all aspects of serving a family, eliminating delays and improving the employee experience.

Prior to announcing the launch of the teaming model, MDHHS visited and spoke with staff across Michigan to better understand challenges associated with the current welfare system. MDHHS will integrate feedback from employees and families throughout the implementation process to allow for continuous improvement of the model.

The first cohort of MDHHS county offices to implement the new model began in May 2025 and included Allegan and Barry, Macomb, Sanilac and St. Clair, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties with a second cohort to begin by the end of the year and a statewide rollout planned for mid-2026.

Throughout the first cohort, the teaming model has:

• Increased shared decision making and improved opportunities for apprenticeship-based learning.
• Helped build a common set of community support resources and navigators to strengthen the foundation for long-term support.

The second cohort, in which county office leadership engagement has already begun, will include the following counties:

• Emmet, Charlevoix and Antrim
• Roscommon and Ogemaw
• Clinton and Eaton
• Ingham
• Isabella and Clare
• Saginaw
• Muskegon
• Jackson
• Lenawee and Monroe
• Livingston
• Genesee
• Oakland
• Wayne (partial)

Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda

The teaming model aligns with the department’s Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda, which focuses on prevention, intervention, stability, wellness and workforce.

The Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda includes more than 20 protocols and policies to improve the safety and well-being of Michigan children. Developed over the course of more than four years, the agenda relies on best practices in child welfare and commits the department to the nation’s highest standards.

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