MDHHS announces phase 2 launch of statewide juvenile justice Bed Management Tool

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the launch of phase 2 enhancements to its statewide Bed Management Tool, an innovative digital platform designed to help modernize youth placement in Michigan’s juvenile justice system. The updates will streamline placement coordination and improve real-time reporting. 

Phase 2 updates build upon the tool’s initial launch in July 2025 by expanding functionality to improve residential treatment placement matching, reduce administrative burden and increase transparency across courts, facilities and policymakers.

“These enhancements continue to support more informed placement decisions that better align youth needs with appropriate treatment and services,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “This tool helps strengthen coordination across the state while reinforcing the importance of serving youth in their home communities whenever possible.”

The Bed Management Tool was developed in partnership with the University of Michigan’s Child and Adolescent Data Lab. The tool was created in response to the need for efficient, data-driven decision making in residential placement and treatment for youth involved in Michigan’s juvenile justice system.

"The Child & Adolescent Data Lab at the University of Michigan School of Social Work has significantly expanded the dashboard infrastructure to enhance both functionality and reporting capabilities,” said Zia Qui, research technology specialist, University of Michigan. “These improvements reflect our ongoing commitment to delivering actionable, data-driven tools to the practitioners and policymakers who depend on timely, accurate information."

“The Bed Management Tool provides a quick and simple view of placement opportunities in real time,” said Julie Duffey, residential coordinator, Highfields, Inc. “It can save countless hours for providers searching for an open bed.”   

In addition to supporting individual placement decisions, the Bed Management Tool functions as a statewide reporting system, providing visibility into youth placement, facility utilization and occupancy trends. The information collected supports statewide planning, identifies service gaps and will guide future system improvements.

The enhancements strengthen public safety by ensuring that youth are placed in residential treatment programs that align with their individual risk levels and specific needs. Whenever possible, youth will be placed closer to home, helping maintain family connections and community ties. Phase 2 supports faster placement decisions, reducing unnecessary time in detention and allowing youth to move more quickly into appropriate services. Additionally, the enhanced system provides judges and court professionals with clearer visibility into available programs, making it easier to match youth with services that support accountability, rehabilitation and long-term success.

Phase 2 enhancements include:

• Advanced search and filter capabilities, allowing users to identify facilities by services offered, age range, gender served and other placement criteria.
• Expanded service arrays to better align youth treatment needs with facility programming.
• Length-of-stay information to support planning and system flow.
• Detailed facility descriptions, including program focus and treatment approaches.
• Clear identification of admission exclusions to reduce unnecessary placement inquiries.

The Phase 2 launch aligns with broader reforms initiated by the Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform established by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in June 2021 through Executive Order 2021-06. The Task Force led a comprehensive, data-driven review of Michigan’s juvenile justice system, recommending strategies grounded in research and constitutional principles to strengthen standards, improve efficiency and effectiveness and increase the safety and well-being of youth impacted by the juvenile justice system.

This project is funded through a broader juvenile justice reform effort supported by federal grants awarded to MDHHS by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

For more information about the Bed Management Tool, please contact:
MDHHS-JJReform@Michigan.gov.