Ahmed's Administrative Angst

The Michigan Department of Human Services Director, Ismeal Ahmed is out there, using social media, to lobby, oops, I mean rally the child placing agencies, drats, I mean inform the public on the potential impact of the proposed budget cuts to DHS.

In this unrehearsed, cue card reading presentation, Mr. Ahmed starts his spiel on the severe crisis families, dependent upon the state's social support system, will experience. I was somewhat shocked that there were no photos of abused and neglected kids, a long-standing traditional state technique I like to call "throwing-dead-babies." See, whenever DHS is put in the hot seat, being questioned about fulfilling its administrative duties of running an efficient agency, someone always seems to start screaming "more child protection." Here is an example of how it works:

"These cuts are too large, too deep, too damaging, and undermine the safety net needed to protect so many vulnerable children, adults and families," Ahmed said.

He is absolutely correct if the administration of DHS continues along its merry way of turning a blind eye to the pervasive fraud, waste and abuse.

Mr. Ahmed points out that the proposed cuts would also:

* Eliminate the program that helps low-income parents pay for childcare.
* Eliminate the Early Childhood Investment Corp. and its programs that foster school readiness and life success for young children.
* Make a $10 per person, per month cut in the Family Independence Program, which helps families with living expenses such as rent, utilities, clothing and personal care items.
* Reduce the State Disability Assistance program grant which helps people who are disabled and the elderly.

These are pretty compelling points of contention to not cut the the DHS budget, but this is asymmetrical in its presentation of facts.

The truth of the matter is DHS is paranoid of violating the settlement agreement with the Children's Rights class action lawsuit. One of the conditions of the settlement was to hire more CPS workers. If DHS does not hire more workers, then, I am guessing DHS is looking at exemplary damages. The price of the recovery of attorney fees cost Michigan $6.2 million.

Despite the Michigan DHS Audit of 2004 which questions over $600 million in costs and the DHS Audit of 2006 which questions another $600 million in costs nothing really has changed. DHS still refuses to initiate contractual debarment, fines or sanctions of the sub-recipient fraudfeasor. I will save you the angst in not providing a summation of all the DHS single audit program questioned costs.

And just think, the legislature is only proposing a cut of $169 million. Whatever shall Mr. Ahmed do? Reign in on the fraud, waste and abuse in DHS or close his eyes really, really tight and hold up a baby as a shield from public scrutiny. Oh, the administrative angst!

Now, here is another interesting item. Mr. Ahmed claims that the loss of DHS workers would create a barrier for individuals and families to access services. I will close this out by directing you to watch another DHS youtube creation.