A West Michigan mental health service provider added a new member to its leadership team.

Arbor Circle recently appointed Chelsea Tucker to the role of child welfare director.

BAD AXE, MI – July 28, 2022: CAN Council has trained 5 Huron County volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for abused children. The first CASA training in Huron County launched in May this year. Culmination of the 6-week training program is a swearing-in ceremony officiated by The Honorable Gerald M. Prill at the Huron County Courthouse on August 4 at 1:30PM.

Foster youth in Michigan say the classes they took in state-funded facilities didn’t count toward graduation. Some dropped out. “I felt destroyed,” one said, “like everything I did was for nothing.”

Gov. Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Childcare Package Expanding Access to Quality, Affordable Childcare for Families; Cutting Red Tape for Small Business

June is Pride Month! Here Are 12 Tips for Advocating for LGBTQ Youth

Is Michigan's foster care system fair to kids of color?

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law a package of bills creating a statewide child abuse registry that will track confirmed cases of people convicted of child abuse.

You are invite to a Meet & Greet with the new Executive Director of Wayne County CASA.

Child Maltreatment 2020 Show Decreases

A Proclamation on National Black History Month, 2022

JANUARY 31, 2022 - PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

Each February, National Black History Month serves as both a celebration and a powerful reminder that Black history is American history, Black culture is American culture, and Black stories are essential to the ongoing story of America — our faults, our struggles, our progress, and our aspirations.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) today outlined progress that has improved the well-being of youth involved in the state's child welfare system.

MDHHS appeared virtually in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan for the latest report from federal court monitors who have been tracking the progress since a court settlement in 2008 following a 2006 lawsuit.

"Michigan has made great progress over the past 13 years in keeping children safe and providing services to families," said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. "While we realize we still have work to do, we strongly believe we have a self-reliant child welfare system and are moving closer to a system that does not need federal court oversight."

Two court monitors' latest assessment of Michigan's child welfare system was described by a federal judge Thursday as "just devastating," despite a 15-year effort to reform the troubled system.

"It was really depressing to read how little the state has accomplished," said Judge Nancy Edmunds of the U.S. District Court of Michigan's Eastern District. "If anything, we've slipped backwards."

Read the full report from the Michigan House Adoption & Foster Care Task Force

Congratulations to Amy D’Aprile! Amy is a passionate and dedicated CASA volunteer that promotes CASA within the community and is always willing to help other CASA volunteers.

The world may know Jessica Ramsey as an American shot putter who, at the US Olympic Track & Field Team Trials held last month, threw an US Olympic Trials Championships Record to win the women's shot put 20.12 m (66ft.). However, CASA of Lafayette County in Oxford, Miss., knows Jessica as a passionate and dedicated CASA volunteer.

This article is part of State of Health, a series about how Michigan communities are rising to address health challenges. It is made possible with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.

A new 24/7 mental health crisis support line is now available in Oakland County and Michigan's Upper Peninsula – and it's just the first step of a larger plan to roll out improved mental health crisis services across the state.

Many children may experience excitement or anxiety about starting school, be sure to check in with the child and family you serve with a phone call or meeting and ask them to share their feelings and anticipation about the new school year.

How CASA Volunteers Can Connect with Children in the New School Year?