By AP
MADISON HEIGHTS, MI –
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has sworn in close to 300 child welfare workers, telling them their jobs are in many ways tougher than his.
The first-term Republican governor administered the oath, then told the standing, clapping group: "Congratulations and God bless."
The hundreds who joined the state Department of Human Services on Monday during the ceremony at a banquet hall in Madison Heights are less than half of the 720 who have been hired by the state since February to work in children's protective, foster care,
adoption, juvenile and home licensing services.
After the swearing-in, Snyder signed bills aimed at streamlining the adoption process for children in foster care.
DHS Director Maura Corrigan says there currently are 14,700 children in Michigan's foster care system, and 3,200 are available for adoption.