Rep. Wozniak calls for executive action after unsatisfactory CPS audit

State Rep. Doug Wozniak on Wednesday stressed the need for immediate improvements in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Protective Services (CPS) division following the recent release of an unsatisfactory follow-up report to a 2018 audit that identified 17 significant deficiencies. The follow-up report from the nonpartisan Michigan Office of the Auditor General uncovered dangerous deficiencies in practices and procedures.

The 2018 audit report uncovered seventeen significant deficiencies at CPS, including a lack of required background checks, long delays in opening abuse investigations, a lack of adequate safety plans for victims, and, in some cases, a failure to meet with victims at all. The recently released 2024 follow-up report contained similar damning failures.

“It is troubling to see that MDHHS has been unable to correct the previously identified errors in CPS. Clearly, the governor’s office must take immediate action to ensure that at-risk children receive the protections and services they deserve,” said Wozniak, R-Shelby Township. “MDHHS has had six years to make these changes and they have failed to do so. We cannot allow even one more child to fall through the cracks of ineffective bureaucracy.”

The new report found that after the initial audit, MDHHS changed its internal policies to reduce the number of people required to conduct background checks. This policy change eliminated background check requirements for parents found not guilty, those responsible for the health and welfare of the children involved, and all other household members in cases where domestic violence may be involved.

Nevertheless, in the cases reviewed by the OAG, auditors found that individuals directly involved in the care of children had previously been convicted of serious crimes, including first-degree sexual assault, domestic violence, assault and drug offenses.

The report points out that MDHHS still has not developed adequate safety plans and in some cases does not even conduct in-person interviews.

Additionally, MDHHS does not follow state law regarding the time within which an investigation must begin following an allegation of child abuse. State law requires that investigations of abuse or neglect begin within 24 hours, but department policies allow for a delay of up to 72 hours, which is in direct contradiction to the law.

“The first step is clearly to review and revise CPS policies to ensure they are consistent with state law and national standards,” Wozniak said. “Second, MDHHS must not be allowed to change these policies without oversight and approval. Department leadership responded to its own failures in 2018 by protecting the bureaucracy rather than the children.”

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