Officials from the Michigan Department of Human Services (MDHS) will meet with national advocate organization, Children’s Rights, in January to discuss the department’s ongoing efforts to improve the state’s foster care and adoption services. This recent development delays a request for a federal receivership of the MDHS.

The MDHS has been under a court order since the settlement of a July 2008 lawsuit, filed by Children’s Rights, to reform its foster care system. Under the settlement, the MDHS agreed to enact a five-year reform plan.

Last week, a court-appointed monitor released a detailed report demonstrating the MDHS failed to make significant improvements in the last year, such as adequately reducing caseworker loads and recruiting and licensing enough foster homes. As a result of these findings, Children’s Rights requested a court-ordered federal receivership of the MDHS.

U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Edmunds scheduled planning conferences with attorneys for Children’s Rights and MDHS officials in late January instead of issuing a federal takeover. Gov.-elect Snyder assured Judge Edmunds that improving the state’s child welfare services will be a top priority for his administration. At this time, Snyder has not appointed a new director for the MDHS.