LANSING – Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) officials today announced that Michigan is one of five states approved by the federal government to use Title IV-E foster care funding to pay for prevention and early intervention services to help families stay together safely.

With this approval, federal funding can be used to help more Michigan children remain safely in their own homes and reduce the number of children who grow up in foster care.

"Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and stable home and the State of Michigan is committed to an aggressive, proactive plan to protect our children," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "We will act swiftly on this new opportunity, and continue moving forward on our plan to keep children safe and support Michigan families."

Funding can also be used for services to help children already in care return home in a safe and timely manner or – when this is not possible – move more quickly into a permanent family.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approved Michigan's request under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. Title IV-E funding is usually earmarked for traditional foster care expenses such as board, care, and administration.

"This approval is a tremendous boost to our overall plan for protecting children and preserving families," said DHS director Marianne Udow. "Our reforms to date have already resulted in fewer children in the foster care system, fewer children re-entering the system, and more children placed with relatives. With this approval, we can expand our prevention efforts and provide families with the kind services they need to keep their children safely at home."

Under the waiver, the state will conduct pilots in five communities, including two in Wayne County. The Wayne County pilot will include six Detroit neighborhoods that are part of the Skillman Foundation's Good Neighborhoods Initiative. The department will solicit bids from other counties interested in becoming pilot sites; the additional sites will be chosen and implementations will begin between October 1, 2006 and March 30, 2007.

In pilot counties, the state will use IV-E funds to expand family preservation programs (like Families First of Michigan), strengthen family reunification programs, and increase involvement of both birth parents and foster parents in decisions made on behalf of the child. The state can also use the funds to stabilize adoptions and support relative caregivers.

The Detroit-based Skillman Foundation provided a grant to DHS that helped the department secure the federal waiver. The Skillman Foundation is a resource for improving the lives of children in metropolitan Detroit. The Foundation applies its resources to foster positive relationships between children and adults, support high-quality learning opportunities and strengthen healthy, safe and supportive homes and communities. The foundation was founded in December, 1960, by Rose P. Skillman, widow of Robert H. Skillman, vice president and director of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, and has an annual grant making budget of $23 million.

"Michigan is committed to strong action on behalf of children," Udow said. "Our family- and community-centered approach to child welfare, our Family Resource Centers in at-risk schools, our plan for reducing minority disproportionality, and the Governor's development of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation are all receiving national attention. By approving our request to redirect foster care funding into prevention and early intervention services, the federal government is helping us continue our aggressive steps to protect children and preserve families in Michigan."