MiFamily Together Pilot

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and its community-based partners are pleased to announce the launch of the MiFamily Together (MFT) program. The two-year pilot program started in October 2024 in 25 counties throughout the state with four Federation member agencies piloting a new contract and program. The goal of services is to deliver more flexible family preservation programming that is responsive to each family’s needs whether they are in crisis, need some extra support to avoid out-of-home placement, or they have children returning home from foster care. 

The MiFamily Together pilot is designed to streamline access to services and create efficiencies by concentrating resources, integrating best practices, and reducing the number of different programs families must navigate as their needs evolve. This approach should increase positive outcomes as families will no longer have to build rapport with different workers in new provider agencies as their service needs change. The pilot integrates a two-generation, or 2Gen, whole-family approach to have a more comprehensive and holistic approach to working with both the children and the caregivers in the home. Although the main focus of service delivery will be to reduce the risk of child maltreatment, 2Gen recognizes the importance of addressing the needs of the whole family unit while increasing well-being and prosperity. This means elements like adult/child education, mental and physical health, supporting job skill development, community engagement, and building a social support network will also be integrated into service delivery. 

THE 2GEN APPROACH

  • What is 2Gen?

    Two-generation (2Gen) approaches build family well- being by intentionally and simultaneously working with children and the adults in their lives together. As children, parents, and families grow and change across their lifespan, 2Gen approaches align opportunities to help families pursue their goals and thrive, optimizing each person’s potential along the way. The results are healthy parents with family-supporting jobs, healthy children meeting developmental milestones, and better-connected individuals able to participate in civic and family life.

    Understanding 2GEN

  • 2Gen Guiding Principles

    There are countless essential experiences and opportunities that are required for people to reach their full potential. To facilitate connections to these supports, all 2Gen policies and programs are grounded in and guided by 5 core principles.

    Learn about the principles of 2GEN

  • Partners

    The 2Gen approach moves away from siloed thinking and towards innovative practice and policy. Collaboration across agencies and sectors, data sharing, and leveraging existing resources to drive down costs and to promote economic success for the whole family is at the heart.

    CLICK HERE to view the 2Gen Core Workgroup Agency Partners

    Learn More: Meet the Ascend community partners in Michigan

LEARN MORE

  • 2Gen Learning Resources

    The 2Gen Toolbox was produced by a partnership between Ascend at the Aspen Institute and the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (CSG), and supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The inclusion of more than 300 resources in the toolbox reflects input from key 2Gen leaders and consultants, gathered by Karen Murrell (Higher Heights Consulting), Aspen CSG and Ascend.

    Learning Resources / Toolbox

  • 2Gen Videos

    2Gen Videos

  • Michigan Title IV-E Prevention Plan

    Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in collaboration with youth and parents with lived experience, community organizations, legal and judicial partners, service providers, tribal partners, and other public human-service agencies, have embraced a bold vision for a 21st century children’s services system oriented around prevention of abuse or neglect, family well-being and race equity.

    View / Download: Michigan Title IV-E Prevention Plan

The Michigan Federation for Children and Families would like to thank the Aspen Institute for making so many resources available to advance 2Gen practice throughout the world. 

The Kresge Foundation has been an instrumental partner in moving this body of work forward in Michigan.