There has been a major shakeup within Michigan's Department of Human Service Child Welfare Institute (CWI).  They are responsible for training social workers -- both state and private agency -- as to the ins and outs of state and federal policy.

DHS Chief Deputy Director Stanley Stewart paid a visit to CWI at 9AM for a meeting.  He made "snide" and "insulting" remarks to the staff regarding lack of communication -- especially to the training unit -- and that's when the shifting began.  

2/3 of CWI is now reporting to Kathryn O'Grady.  The training unit in field services was stripped of 2/3 of it's workforce and is currently in limbo, hopefully to be resolved this week.  It's not known if this is in direct response to the Children's Rights lawsuit but it seems to be a big money grab.  Many of the programs in CWI are 100% federally funded no matter how they perform and the consolidation put most of that money under one head.  The state also took a big step backwards in that a person placed in charge is extremely technophobic and the future of e-Learning -- which had the potential of being a HUGE cost cutter -- is pretty well kaput.  

With regard to the recent reports involving foster care meeting case load requirements, etc., the state social service workforce nearly met their goals.  The private agencies, however, are responsible for the majority of missed visits, etc.  Why?  

For the last 10+ years, the state's policy manual regarding child welfare is electronic.  It's too expensive to print the 500+ page manual that's constantly being revised so the only way to access it is via computer.  Anyone can find it on line -- in fact, here's a link to the table of contents:

http://www.mfia.state.mi.us/olmweb/ex/cfp/cfp.pdf

The problem is that private agency workers do NOT have access to computers.  When they fill out paperwork they do it by hand and then usually have their agency secretary type it into their sole computer.  How are they supposed to check policy and/or view the latest updates when they don't have computer access?  Apparently nobody is telling TPTB that need to know about this serious flaw.  

It's doubtful the reorganization within CWI is ongoing and there will be more shifting of duties over the next couple of weeks.  There's no knowing what this means in the long run but it looks like a step backward rather than forward.