Advocate talks about improving Mich. foster care, adoption systems

LANSING, Mich., Sept. 3, 2009 – Michael Williams, president of Association of Accredited Child and Family Agencies, was featured by syndicated radio host Michael Patrick Shiels on his morning program to talk about the state of foster care and adoption in Michigan.

Williams, who also is CEO of Southfield-based Orchards Children’s Services, is a long-time advocate for child welfare services in Michigan.

Under an October 2008 lawsuit settlement, Michigan agreed to make specific improvements to its child welfare system, ensuring adequate services are provided and reducing caseload ratios for foster care, child protection and adoption caseworkers. This includes making sure all state-run and nonprofit programs are adequately funded to provide necessary services to children in the state’s care.

The settlement will require Michigan to hire hundreds of new workers and to expand existing partnerships, redesign programs and find efficiencies throughout the state Department of Human Services.

The Association of Accredited Child and Family Agencies is made up of nonprofit, community-based organizations that provide adoption and foster care services in Michigan.

Listen to the interview: