LANSING - Michigan's efforts to address the overrepresentation of children of color in the state's child welfare system will get national attention when Department of Human Services Director Marianne Udow addresses the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Annual Conference in Nashville, Tenn. on Aug. 14.

In March, a state task force on the overrepresentation of children of color in child welfare, co-chaired by Udow and Detroit-based Skillman Foundation CEO Carol Goss, released a report detailing recommendations intended to provide better outcomes for children of color served by the state's child welfare system.

In every state, African American and Native American children have historically made up a disproportionate percentage of the child welfare population when compared to their percentage of the general population.

"Michigan is taking a comprehensive approach to addressing this national concern," Udow said. "The recommendations made by the task force in Michigan include initiatives we have already put in place as well as new strategies that will make a lasting difference for Michigan's children."

Sen. Bill Hardiman of Kentwood will join Udow in a panel discussion that will examine the causes and extent of this problem, discuss how some states have made racial equity a public policy priority, and identify promising practices to reduce racial disproportionality and negative outcomes for children of color in child welfare.

Robert Hill, an author, national expert and researcher on child welfare disparities who consulted on the Michigan project, said Michigan's effort is unique among states.

"Michigan and its outstanding advisory committee should be strongly commended for its pioneering strides," Hill said. "This effort will serve as a model to spur similar initiatives to combat minority overrepresentation by states across the nation."

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is addressing many of these child welfare issues through a number of program improvements and initiatives already under way:

• DHS has already adopted a new approach to child welfare that focuses on involving families in decision-making, keeping children with birth families whenever safely possible, and when out-of-home placement is necessary to assure the safety of the child, increasing the number of placements with relatives.
• The department received a federal waiver that allows the use of Title IV-E funds to expand innovative prevention and family support programs.
• The department is already working with funding sources to determine where flexibility exists to support community-based initiatives.
• DHS is encouraging relative caregivers to become licensed foster parents to support the placement of children with relatives.

These initiatives are already showing results statewide. The overall foster care caseload dropped by two percent since 2004, and the percentage of out-of-home placements with relatives has increased by over 10 percent since 2003.