MDHHS Director visits Saginaw County office to discuss new teaming model designed to support and strengthen families

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel met with employees from the MDHHS Saginaw County office to learn first-hand about their experience transitioning to the Children’s Services Administration (CSA) teaming model designed to improve outcomes for Michigan families as well as MDHHS employees.

Announced in March 2025, the CSA teaming model provides employees with clear and distinct roles and encourages collaboration to provide support for families from the moment they enter the child welfare system. The core team, called a pod, includes investigators, case managers, supervisors, family resource specialists, and family team support staff who work alongside other specialized CSA roles to seamlessly address a family’s specific needs, whether it’s economic, educational or administrative.  This replaces the previous model in which a single caseworker handled all aspects of serving a family.

“The CSA teaming model is a bold step forward in how we serve Michigan children and families,” said Hertel. “Working in pods not only empowers our CSA workforce, it builds a collaborative system that wraps supports around a family to help keep kids safe.”

The first cohort of MDHHS county offices to implement the teaming model began in May 2025 and included Allegan and Barry, Macomb, Sanilac and St. Clair, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.

The second cohort, launched in September, includes Emmet, Charlevoix and Antrim, Roscommon and Ogemaw, Clinton and Eaton, Ingham, Isabella and Clare, Saginaw, Muskegon, Jackson, Lenawee and Monroe, Livingston, Genesee, Oakland and Wayne (partial) counties.

The third and final cohort, which includes the rest of the state, launches this month with the entire state expected to be fully transitioned into pods by July 2026.

The teaming model has been well received with employees welcoming the increased shared decision making and working together to identify community resources with navigators to strengthen the foundation for long-term family support.

“Since implementing the pods, I’ve really seen a positive shift. Our teams have a shared understanding of what families need,” said Jennifer Boose, MDHHS Saginaw County director. “The teaming model keeps the needs of children and families at the center of every team decision, and employees feel supported working as part of a team.”

MDHHS community partners say the teaming model creates a stronger foundation for collaboration.

“Overall, our experience with the teaming model in Macomb County has been very positive,” said Brianne French from Orchards Children’s Services. “Before teaming CPS staff did not always know each other or how cases would be handed off. This made it harder for us to follow up or get answers as a partner. Now the process is more cohesive, and the communication is noticeably stronger.”

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.