A Resolution for Expanding the Window of
Opportunity for Children’s Services in the Community

Whereas; tax dollars are scarce and should be reserved for important public policy efforts which demonstrate results; and

Whereas; state and local planning efforts for children, families or adults, without the inclusion of all stakeholders, has led to fragmentation and lack of accountability of the systems at the local level leading to poor outcomes for Michigan’s children; and 

Whereas; state government has expressed a desire to manage its resources based on principles of prioritizing spending and eliminating programs and services that are least valuable to the citizens; and

Whereas; children and families with high service and resource needs depend upon a myriad of different public organizations to be successful; and

Whereas; children with serious emotional disturbances and developmental disabilities in multiple systems are a vulnerable population that the state has a duty to protect and nurture; and

Whereas, the developmental period of childhood is a vital window of opportunity for growth and to build resiliency which has a lifetime impact; and

Whereas; families are the primary source of nurturing, permanency and support for children and need the support of communities to be successful in raising children with vulnerable/challenging needs to be productive members of their community; and

Whereas; the Governor has recognized the need for coordination of state agency resources for children and has created the Director’s Interagency Group and The Children’s Action Network; and

Whereas; the Michigan Mental Health Commission identified the need for many service delivery improvements to effectively provide improved access and continuity of care for Michigan’s children and youth; and

Whereas; community-based care has demonstrated itself to be the most cost-effective care alternative; and

Whereas; evidence-based practices are emerging for children which demonstrate positive and predictable outcomes worthy of public investment; and

Whereas; collaborative service models such as “Wraparound” or “Family to Family” which coordinate multiple resources on behalf of children and families with multiple needs have demonstrated superior outcomes; and

Whereas, collaborative planning to align local services is an efficient and cost-effective tool which maximizes the value of dollars invested; and

Whereas, early assessment and intervention are proven to further enhance savings by preventing more costly services from being utilized; and

Whereas; comprehensive coordinated assessments in a community setting lead to better care planning at the systems level and better coordination of services for the individual; and

 Whereas; collaborative systems of care in a community setting are created when planning, training, implementation, outcomes and accountability are generated jointly by all participating stakeholders with overt attention to cultural and racial service competency relative to the children and families needing support; and

Now Therefore Be It Resolved; that community-based system of care strategies that have demonstrated their efficacy and resources that support them should be protected and prioritized within the appropriations process; and

Be It Further Resolved; that the Executive Office convene state and local planning groups in concert with local collaboration to result in the comprehensive action plan for the coordination and implementation of services to Michigan’s children and their families; and

Be It Further Resolved; that any state policy planning activities for community-based systems of care must include all state and local stakeholders to further enhance the development and maintenance of community systems; and   

Be It Further Resolved; that any community-based care policy initiative that requires local planning and utilizes state financial support should show evidence of the inclusion of all local stakeholders; and

Be It Further Resolved; that blended funding models need to be implemented immediately to further promote local collaboration; and

 Be It Further Resolved; that the state must continue to identify, disseminate and support Evidence-Based Practices specific to children with serious emotional disturbances and developmental disabilities in Michigan; and

Be It Further Resolved; that all community mental health directors and board leadership will share this resolution with other stakeholders in their local communities such as collaborative bodies, and encourage the endorsement of this resolution or another like it which promotes values, priorities and public funding for such programs and services for Michigan children with serious emotional disturbances and developmental disabilities and their families described herein; and

Be It Further Resolved; that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Governor Granholm, Members of the Legislature, all state department heads whose responsibilities include Michigan children, all community mental health directors and board chairs, local Department of Human Services directors, local family court judges, all intermediate school superintendents and the Michigan Association of Counties. 

Download a copy of this resolution.           

Click here for a list of boards and agencies that have adopted the resolution.