The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ FIT program, or Family Impact Team, embeds an economic security staff member, someone who connects families to resources, with a member of child welfare staff, such as foster care or Child Protective Services. MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel explains why.
“So that when one of our children services staff goes to see a family, they have that person who has access to those resources with them and can work with the family to see if there is something that they need or could use to help them stay together safely.”
Those services can include food assistance, Medicaid, housing assistance and gas cards
“To assistance with backpacks and school supplies, so the array of resources necessary is broad, obviously.
The program has supported over 1,000 families in 12 counties during its first nine-month phase. This second phase includes another 11 counties, including Ottawa and Berrien.
Hertel says the response to the program has been phenomenal.
“The families that we’re working with, I hope, are beginning to understand that our goal is never to try to take children away if we don’t have to. Our goal is, try to keep families intact in a safe way.”
Families can contact their local county offices to find out more about the MDHHS FIT program.
