Michigan's Chattel Ranching Plan

Michigan has no intentions of changing anything in its child welfare philosophy.  It will enhance performance standards but it will not deviate from its paradigm of codifying poverty.

The following is a policy in dealing with chattel ranching (a.k.a. foster kids):

Psychotropic Medication

Children placed in the custody of the Michigan Department of Human Services often have biological, psychological and social risk factors that predispose them to emotional and behavioral disturbances. The use of psychotropic medication as part of a comprehensive mental health treatment plan may be beneficial. However, caution must be used in administering psychotropic medication to children in DHS custody because of heightened concern due to publicized cases where questionable prescribing patterns threaten a child’s health. Policies and procedures to guide the psychotropic medication management of children in DHS custody will be made in consultation with child and adolescent psychiatrists. The Michigan Department of Community Health will collaborate with DHS to provide the system oversight of psychotropic use.

Drugging foster kids is far more beneficial as it will increase Medicaid revenue streams and is more cost effective in reduction of therapy and monitoring family visits.  Drugging foster kids significantly reduces the risk of litigation when a child is tortured and raped while under stare care.

Here is another 'benevolent' Michigan foster care policy dealing with age-outs.

As of May 1, 2008, Michigan extended automatic Medicaid eligibility to youth leaving foster care at 18 until their 21st birthday. The DHS dedicated a staff position and developed a one-page form the caseworker faxes to Central Office to open Foster Care Transitional Medicaid (FCTMA). A FCTMA brochure was developed for youth and has been provided to all local DHS offices. Private and public agency CPA caseworkers provide the brochure to youth prior to their exit from the child welfare system. This brochure also serves as a guide for caseworkers. Training for caseworkers statewide is in progress as is mailing of information to notify all youth who have transitioned from foster care and are eligible for FCTMA.

After severing all legacy and connections to families, the state is throwing an extended bone to these youths before they have to fend for themselves at the social slaughter. 

Another exclusionary policy on state operations:

By September 30, 2014, at least one former foster youth shall be a member of the State Foster Care Advisory Board.

Birth parents need not apply.

No place in this document is there reference to fraud, waste and abuse.  There is no mention of reporting these transgressions or referrals to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

"Additionally, one-eighth of the Children's Protective Services worker participation eligible under title IV-E is assigned directly to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to account for the one week of training in investigative techniques provided only to these workers in the CWTI Pre-Service Institute."



Quarter ending 9-30-08
Title IV-E Training @ 75% FFP
$901,408.79
31.1668%
Title IV-E Administration @ 50% FFP
$141,550.89
4.8942%
Title IV-A TANF Administration @ 100%
$784,213.42
27.1147%  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<this is not one-eighth
SSBG Foster Care
$1,065,031.42
36.8242%

I was always under the impression that Title IV-A could supplement training costs but this is ridiculous.  So as the state cuts families off of financial assistance, it is billing with questionable costs to train CPS workers.

Really Michigan, really?  You spend that much for one week of training for state workers each quarter?  That's fraud.

DHS must submit the plan by December 31, 2011, and will accept public comments for the next 45 days. Comments can be submitted by fax or email using these instructions:

• Send an email to DHS-TANF@michigan.gov 
• Fax comments to Dale Shaw at 517-335-7771.

This is my public comment to the plan:

I have severe concerns with the level of Title IV-A funds being used for "CPS Training", the failure to establish grievance policy and the fact that anything addressing Medicaid fraud referral procedures for consumers and state employees to be reported is omitted.

For establishing an oversight system for improper and unnecessary use of psychotropic medication in foster care, the state must begin with the understanding that it was not limited to a few "cases", it was the subject of a GAO report of which Michigan was a cohort.  This is where one can begin to address the improper and questionable costs reimbursements in Medicaid.

I am deeply saddened that the state must spin its budgetary shotfalls on the backs of the most vulnerable of society.