Michigan State University | School of Social Work | Continuing Education
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STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
• Public Act 488 changes the Safe Delivery of Newborns law
• Coming soon to Michigan: Fingerprinting of foster parents
• First proposal offered for replacement of SBT
• Senate Fiscal Agency says cutting budget could mean
• House Committee assignments nearly set; Spade appointed to chair Appropriations DHS Subcommittee
• Legislation introduced this week includes

STATE JUDICIAL/EXECUTIVE/ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES
• DHS to close . . .
• Title IV-E Waiver expected to be delayed
• New director of Dept. of Labor and Economic Growth from the private human services sector

FEDERATION ACTIVITIES
• Emergency Meeting
• IT MIN excellent, informative meeting yesterday in Southfield

Rep. to Chair Dept. of Human Services Appropriations Committee

LANSING, Mich. - State Representative Dudley Spade (D-Tipton) will be responsible for the third largest state budget and the second largest state department when he takes the reigns of the Appropriations Committee on the Department of Human Services (DHS) for the 94th Michigan Legislature.  The former controller for Starr Commonwealth and Boysville of Michigan, both private non-profit service organizations that work with troubled youth, added that the committee is a natural fit given his background in child advocacy and accounting.  The Representative from Tipton has also been tapped to serve as the Majority Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“I have spent my entire career as an advocate for children and families,” he said.  “The hands-on experience I developed during my time at Boysville and Starr Commonwealth have prepared me for this new opportunity to help improve the lives of children in Lenawee County and throughout the state.  Many of these children and families face serious and difficult challenges, and I look forward to providing them with new
hope.”

Spade has spent more than 25 years as a child and family advocate, his first 17 years as the Controller at Boysville of Michigan (now Holy Cross Services) and more recently as Controller and Director of Information Systems and Technology for Starr Commonwealth.  Under Spade’s watch, Starr Commonwealth was recognized by Consumer’s Digest as the 6th most efficient charity in the nation.  Also under his belt, Spade restored $7.5 million in funding to services benefiting Michigan’s children and was the winner of the first annual Michigan Federation of Private Child and Family Agencies’ Peer Award for outstanding dedication in service to Michigan’s families and children in 1994.  More recently, he was recognized by Michigan’s Children as their Visionary Freshman Legislator for 2005.

“Rep. Spade has spent his entire career dedicated to nonprofit human services, applying his financial and ethical expertise to ensuring fiscal responsibility and quality services for children and families,” said Elizabeth Carey, Executive Director for the Michigan Federation for Children and Families. “The Michigan Federation for Children and Families applauds Speaker Dillion’s appointment of Rep. Spade to lead the DHS Appropriations Committee.”

Spade went on to add: “I look forward to working with the Department to create greater efficiencies within state government, enhance our ability to draw federal dollars, and work to foster a strong public/private partnership.”

Several changes to the Safe Delivery of Newborns law were enacted in late 2006 with an effective date of January 1, 2007. A Safe Delivery Legal workgroup was convened in November 2005 to review and recommend changes to the Safe Delivery of Newborns law.  Members of the workgroup included representatives from Oakland, Kent and Washtenaw Circuit Courts, private adoption agencies, DHS, Sen. Shirley Johnson’s office, Legislative Services, Michigan Judicial Institute and State Court Administrator’s Office. Click here for a summary of the more significant changes that you will need to know.  You are strongly encouraged to download a copy of PA 488 for additional details.

Meeting the Mentoring Challenge: Child Trends’ Newest Brief for Out-of-School Time Practitioners Discusses Recruiting Mentors and Recommends Resources—Just in time for National Mentoring Month, Child Trends summarizes the critical steps that program providers should consider when recruiting mentors and recommends resources that can be used in the process. A must-read resource for programs seeking mentors for youth who need adult guidance. Download the 8-page report here: ChildTrendsRecruitMentors.