The role of the state’s Child Protective Services is to protect Michigan kids from abuse and neglect. It is also supposed to prioritize keeping children with their parents whenever possible. But some parents say the agency isn’t doing enough to keep families together, leading to more children in Michigan’s foster care system. We talk to reporter Justin Hinkley about his recent investigation into those claims for the Lansing State Journal.
Michigan’s foster care system has had a troubled past, but it’s been making some strides recently. There are fewer children waiting to be adopted, and the state has improved its training for caseworkers working in the foster care system.
But while the state is doing a better job of keeping children safe, some say that the state isn't doing enough to keep families together.
A recent investigation by the Lansing State Journal found that some parents face almost insurmountable obstacles in trying to get their children back from Child Protective Services.
Current State talks with LSJ reporter Justin Hinkley.