Audit finds Michigan's Child Protective Services still needs work; agency says review is flawed
Yvonne Benn and Keith Edwards from the Office of the Auditor General testify to the House Child Welfare System Committee on April 15, 2025 | Screenshot
It's been more than six years since the Michigan Auditor General's office delivered a scathing evaluation of how the state health department conducts Child Protective Services investigations, and the department is maintaining that though improvements are necessary, the audit has always been flawed.
Members of the Office of the Auditor General, or OAG, testified before the Michigan state House's Child Welfare System Committee Tuesday to outline some of the findings from the 2018 report and a subsequent updated report from July 2024 that the office says the health department has still not addressed.
Those findings include the OAG's assertion that CPS is still failing to initiate investigations in a timely 24-hour manner, potentially leaving children in dangerous conditions for prolonged periods of time.
But the bulk of the remaining issues the updated audit found place more focus on documentation and less focus on what actually protects children from cycles of violence, Senior Deputy Director of Michigan's Children's Services Administration, or CSA, Demetrius Starling told lawmakers on the committee. CSA is housed in the state health department. Since the 2018 report, as confirmed by the updated audit, Michigan has made movement to improve Child Protective Services, with Starling crediting the department's Keep Kids Safe agenda, unveiled in 2023, for improvements.
'The [Michigan Department of Health and Human Services'] investigates approximately 70,000 referrals of potential abuse and neglect on an annual basis and uses comprehensive approaches to provide the necessary responses based on the risk of each child,' Starling said. 'Michigan kids are counting on us.'
Since 2018, the state health department has complied with several recommendations from the OAG, Yvonne Benn, an audit agency administrator with the OAG said. The updated audit found such improvements like improved timeliness for completing CPS investigations and referring cases to applicable prosecuting attorneys when appropriate.
Benn said after Tuesday, members from the OAG will return to the committee next week to continue presenting recommendations they say the health department has not addressed.
In regards to the specific issue of investigation initiation, Starling said the updated audit acknowledges that CPS since 2018 has firmed up its definition of what constitutes the commencement of an investigation as once an investigator gets face to face with a reported victim for a safety assessment.
But that face-to-face interaction is taking on-average 72 hours to occur, Keith Edwards, who oversaw the OAG's follow up told committee members Tuesday. Michigan law doesn't prescribe what defines the commencement of an investigation, but Edwards said auditors found that CPS's adopted policies fall short of other states' child safety standards.
CPS' current policy to start the clock at face-to-face intervention gives investigators and violence prevention stakeholders time to gain a solid understanding of a child's situation, Starling said.
'At the end of the day, all of these cases are important, so our staff are very diligent about the fact of trying to or at least attempting to make contact within 24 hours… we do a lot of background work with a lot of folks,' Starling said. 'So we're gathering evidence by looking at our own case history. We're doing case planning with our supervisors. We're making other successful investigative contexts before, in some instances, face-to-face is even attempted. So there's a lot of work that goes into preparing for an investigation and committing an investigation.'
As the state health department continues to disagree with several of the findings in the OAG's audit, Starling said the audits have not been without merit as auditors acknowledged several actions taken by the department to improve child welfare.
'We all have a common goal, which is to ensure that kids are safe. I think we can find some common ground,' Starling said. 'We want to make changes, whether it be policy or statutory changes to make sure that families and children are safe in our community, so there's no acrimony. There's no hard feelings, but however, I do stand by the fact that there are some things within this report that are inaccurate.'
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Lewiston mother sues Androscoggin County jail, medical contractor for son's 2023 death
Jun. 9—LEWISTON — The first thing Pamela Ashby asked when she learned her son Trevor had died from pneumonia at the Androscoggin County Jail: how could this happen? Two years later, after reviewing medical records and video surveillance, she still has the same question. "It kind of left me even more dumfounded," Ashby said in an interview with the Portland Press Herald. "There were so many people involved here ... yet it still happened." Ashby is now suing the Androscoggin County Jail and its health care provider, Correctional Psychiatric Solutions, or CPS, alleging they denied her son adequate medical care. In her complaints, Ashby says the jail ignored pressure wounds that had developed on her son's back, which grew infected, and his worsening condition. Trevor Saunders died Nov. 18, 2023, from a disease that Ashby and her lawyers say has long been curable in the United States. Ashby believes her son's death is indicative of a larger, systemic problem at the jail where, her lawsuits state, staff routinely dismiss and ignore inmates' medical needs. Both lawsuits cite medical records, in which several employees said they met with Saunders, who had come into the jail still dealing with the effects of a stroke he had survived the year before. Some of the employees, according to the complaints, eventually suggested they send Saunders to get treatment outside of the jail — but they never did. "Trevor's death is the result of a broken system where needs for basic medical care were ignored, training was lacking, and constitutional protections were routinely violated," Rosalie Wennberg, one of Ashby's attorneys, said in an emailed statement. "The facts of this case make it clear that Trevor's death was preventable, and that at every turn, he was denied help and care that would have saved his life." Ashby is suing CPS and two registered nurses who worked for the jail under the Maine Wrongful Death Act. She is also suing the jail, the county and several officials — including Sheriff Eric Samson, his chief deputy William Gagne, former jail administrator Jeffrey Chute and nearly a dozen corrections officers — for violating Saunders' constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. "Contracting out the provision of jail medical care to a private company does not relieve Defendant Androscoggin County of its constitutional duty to provide adequate health care to inmates at ACJ," the complaint states. The county defendants did not respond to calls and emails Monday afternoon seeking a response to the lawsuit. Joshua D. Hadiaris, an attorney for CPS, said his client cannot comment on the specifics of Saunders' case because of patient confidentiality obligations. "However, CPS is committed to providing quality healthcare and takes all concerns related to patient care very seriously," Hadiaris wrote in an email. THE STROKE Trevor Saunders, 25, was Ashby's only son. He had two siblings on his father's side, according to an obituary, and several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends described as "chosen family." He went to school in Auburn, Mechanic Falls and Poland, Ashby said, and was an active young man who could talk to anybody and pick up almost any sport. He had a particular affinity for basketball and golf, which he still played even after a rare spinal stroke upended his life in March 2022. "I think that was going to be the sport that he would have continued on forever," Ashby said, "no matter how much of his physical ability he got back." Saunders had only been out of school for six years when he had the stroke. He had been doing manual labor and trying to create a good home for his son Alex, Ashby said. He was the kind of father, she said, who waited with his son at the bus stop and taught him video games and wrestling. Saunders struggled after the stroke. Ashby said her active and adventurous son, who prided himself on his strength and mobility, was suddenly unable to get out of a hospital bed in Boston, where he was being treated. Physical therapy helped, but Saunders was frustrated by all of the things he still couldn't do, Ashby said, and the new reality depressed him. One night in January 2023, Ashby said, Saunders went drinking with friends. Ashby said she thinks her son just wanted to have a normal night out, but he ended up in a single-car crash, injuring himself and damaging property. Afterward, Saunders spent several weeks in the hospital. He was later sentenced to 45 days in jail for operating under the influence and on a revoked license. Neither Ashby nor Saunders were concerned about what his time in jail would be like. She said her son was willing to take the accountability for his actions and entered the jail "physically fine." AT THE JAIL Ashby says jail staff wouldn't let Saunders wear a hand brace that helped keep his muscles from retracting while he slept, a long-lasting byproduct of his stroke. She said it was just the first of many instances in which staff dismissed her son's medical needs. He later developed pressure sores on his back, the lawsuits state. Saunders first reported his wounds to the jail on Nov. 1, according to both complaints. He spent the next two weeks meeting with various nurses and physician's assistants, in-person and over Zoom, all of whom documented his worsening condition, his irregular heartbeat and complaints of pain. One of the lawsuits says Saunders, who was under the constant surveillance of several jail officers, spent days moaning from his cell and begging for a cane, a wheelchair and diapers to help with his urinary incontinence, another lingering symptom of the spinal stroke. It alleges his cellmate and others also called for help, and they were ignored. No one took Saunders' vitals, the complaint claims, or ordered lab testing that one nurse suggested could identify the problem. According to the lawsuits, staff offered him an extra mattress, Gatorade and ibuprofen. On Nov. 14, 2023 — nearly three weeks into his sentence — a nurse determined Saunders' wounds were a medical emergency, but their boss still refused to send him to get treatment outside of the jail, the complaints state. Instead, they say, officers moved him to a higher-security area where they could watch him on camera. The complaint against the jail includes photographs of Saunders, lying near his own urine, unable to sit up, hold a cup or eat. Ashby and her lawyers claim this was the result of the jail's "custom and practice that discouraged providing inmates with necessary care from outside medical providers, even where such care was medically necessary, in order to keep costs down." During his time there, Saunders had complained some to his mother, but she said she is mortified by what she has learned over the last two years about his treatment. "We should be providing a place for people to go serve their time for something they've done, and come out and potentially be someone that can be in our community and maybe learn from being in there," she said. "Instead of not coming out at all." For Ashby, she now spends time golfing with Saunders' son, Alex. That's what her son would be doing, she said, if he were still here. She said he had a lot to offer Alex. "Not only to his family but to other people in his life," Ashby said. "And he just wasn't given the opportunity to be the person he could have been." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Convicted nurse faces wait for appeal ruling
A nurse jailed for murdering four elderly patients has been told he faces a wait to find out the outcome of his appeal against his convictions. Colin Campbell, previously known as Colin Norris, was found guilty in 2008 of killing four women and attempting to kill a fifth by injecting them with insulin. Doris Ludlam, 80, Bridget Bourke, 88, Irene Crookes, 79, and Ethel Hall, 86, were inpatients on orthopaedic wards where Campbell worked in Leeds in 2002 and developed unexplained hypoglycaemia. Campbell denied any wrongdoing and over the past 14 days, the Court of Appeal has heard from both his lawyers and also the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who opposed the appeal. He unsuccessfully appealed against his conviction in 2009 and applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in 2011, who said previously that the prosecution had relied on "wholly circumstantial" evidence. The CCRC referred the case to the Court of Appeal in London four years ago. The appeal hearing finished on Friday after closing statements from Michael Mansfield KC, for Campbell, and James Curtis KC, for the CPS. Mr Mansfield previously told the court that Campbell's appeal was a "straightforward case" and that the judges "must conclude that these convictions are unsafe". However, Mr Curtis said the court must uphold the convictions, adding that the jury in Campbell's trial were "provided with the necessary relevant facts and issues, from a plethora of highly qualified and clinically experienced witnesses". Lady Justice Macur, sitting with Sir Stephen Irwin and Mr Justice Picken, said after closing submissions: "It will come as no surprise that we are going to reserve judgment." She added: "There may be ancillary matters for which we will call you back. We will know once you have the draft judgment." A judgment is expected in writing at a later date. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Convicted nurse appeal 'straightforward', court told New evidence may prove nurse's conviction 'unsafe' HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Yahoo
When can you leave your kids home alone in Michigan? What to know as summer vacation nears
Most students in Michigan are approaching summer vacation, a time for a relaxing and fun break from the long school year. Parents, though, typically aren't on that kind of schedule and might find themselves wondering at what age it's legal to leave children home unattended over summer vacation. "Every parent eventually faces the decision to leave their child home alone for the first time," the Michigan's Child Welfare Information Gateway said in a fact sheet. "Whether they are just running to the store for a few minutes or working during after-school hours, parents need to be sure their children have the skills and maturity to handle the situation safely. Being trusted to stay home alone can be a positive experience for a child who is mature and well prepared." In Michigan, there is no minimum age at which children may be left home alone without supervision. Michigan law does regulate how young a child can be to remain in a vehicle alone. Parents, however, should consider many factors before leaving their children alone. "When deciding whether to leave a child home alone, you will want to consider your child's physical, mental, and emotional well-being," the Child Welfare Information Gateway said. Here's what you should know when making a decision. According to the National Child Care Information Center, only Illinois and Maryland currently have laws regarding a minimum age for leaving a child home alone. Even in those states, other factors, such as concern for a child's well-being and the amount of time the child is left alone, are considered. According to the Child Protection Law, there is no legal age that a child can be left home alone, the Michigan Mandated Reporters' Resource Guide says."...But as a general rule, a child 10 years old and younger is not responsible enough to be left home alone. A child over the age of 10 and under the age of 12 will be evaluated, but the case may not always be assigned for a CPS investigation," the guide says. It's important to consider their maturity and if they've demonstrated responsible behavior in the past: Is your child physically and mentally able to care for him- or herself? Does your child obey rules and make good decisions? Does your child feel comfortable or fearful about being home alone? You may also want to consider certain circumstance like: How long will your child be left home alone at one time? Will it be during the day, evening, or night? Will the child need to fix a meal? How often will the child be expected to care for him- or herself? How many children are being left home alone? Children who themselves are ready to stay home alone may not necessarily be ready to care for younger siblings. Is your home safe and free of hazards? How safe is your neighborhood? There are other points to consider: Have a trial period. Leave the child home alone for a short time while staying close to home. Role play. Act out possible situations to help your child learn what to do. Establish rules. Make sure your child knows what is (and is not) allowed when you are not home. Some experts suggest making a list of chores or other tasks to keep children busy while you are gone. Check in. Call your child while you are away to see how it's going, or have a trusted neighbor or friend check in. Talk about it. Encourage your child to share his or her feelings with you about staying home alone. Don't overdo it. Even a mature, responsible child shouldn't be home alone too much. Consider other options, such as programs offered by schools, community centers, youth organizations, or churches, to help keep your child busy and involved It's also important to establish a safety plan so your child knows what to do and who to contact in an emergency situation. Other factors include: Can your child follow this plan? Does your child know his or her full name, address, and phone number? Does your child know where you are and how to contact you at all times? Does your child know the full names and contact information of other trusted adults, in case of emergency? Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Leaving children home alone in Michigan. What are the rules
