Legislative Priorities for 23-24
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PERMANENCY THROUGH STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE
Michigan County
Social Services
Association
2023-24 Legislative
Session Priorities
➢Safety at Home
➢Safety in Care
➢Permanency Through Stability and Independence
SAFETY AT HOME
Maintain Safety and Wellbeing of Children
MCSSA supports preventing child abuse and neglect through the provision of services and resources for vulnerable families.
Improve the consistency of resources in communities to reduce trauma experienced by families and mitigate the risk of harm to children.
MCSSA supports prevention initiatives in each community to reduce the need for referrals for child abuse and neglect.
Work to reduce the need for removal of children from parental care by buildingnpartnerships with family advocates, community leaders, and stakeholders.
Safe, Affordable Housing
MCSSA supports providing adequate resources for individuals, families, and communities facing barriers to safe and affordable housing.
Financial Exploitation
MCSSA supports strengthening legislation and increasing penalties for those who financially exploit vulnerable adults and seniors.
SAFETY IN CARE
Reduce Risk of Harm and Reduce Length of Stay While in Residential and Foster Care
MCSSA supports the focus on permanency and preventing recurrence and separation, while increasing the number of foster care homes and residential placement capacity.
MCSSA supports legislation that will increase options (homes) to support caregivers who protect and provide safe placement to vulnerable children and
youth.
MCSSA supports keeping youth safe from maltreatment in care, while focusing on only the most required time for placement to address their trauma.
Protection of Vulnerable Adults and Seniors in Community Living Situations
MCSSA supports legislation to protect and provide safety while assuring justice for vulnerable adults.
Protection for those who live in their own home, or in assisted living facilities, Homes for the Aged, Adult Foster Care, and other group living arrangements.
PERMANENCY THROUGH STABILITY AND
INDEPENDENCE
Medical Care Facilities
MCSSA supports full Medicaid reimbursement funding for the medical care facilities assuring that it is adequate and sustainable for the residents.
MCSSA supports adequate funding to provide appropriate wage levels for direct caregivers.
There are 34 medical care facilities (MCFs) in Michigan.
Medical care facilities serve citizens in all of Michigan’s 83 counties and are the safety net for Michigan’s most vulnerable citizens who need skilled nursing facility care regardless of their ability to pay for care.
Medical Care Administrators report that it is difficult to maintain staffing at current rates due to the fact the job market with less stress pays more than the wage that direct care workers receive
PERMANENCY THROUGH STABILITY AND
INDEPENDENCE
Juvenile Justice
MCSSA supports engaging families, community advocates, and providers to work with county juvenile court systems to prevent removal of youth.
MCSSA supports adequate funding for the Raise the Age initiative which keeps children in the juvenile justice court system vs. the adult court system.
Childcare
MCSSA supports affordable childcare resources and opportunities for working but financially challenged families.
Support families maintaining or returning to employment, including the need for childcare and additional financial support to enable adults to return to the work environment.
Substance Use Disorder Services
MCSSA supports the fight against opioid and other substance use disorders and all efforts that address this challenge.
Continue to support prevention, treatment and recovery services that prevent and effectively address substance use disorders.
PERMANENCY THROUGH STABILITY AND
INDEPENDENCE
The mission of MCSSA is to serve
residents and members by:
· Advocating for humane and
effective human service systems
· Identifying human service policy and
legislative priorities
· Facilitating education and training
opportunities for members,
elected officials, and communities
Who We Are:
• County Department of Health and
Human Services Board members
• County DHHS Directors
• Program Managers
Michigan County Social Services Association
115 W Allegan Street, Suite 200
Lansing, MI 48933
517.371.5303
mcssa@mcssa.com