Public Safety

Heroin’s spread in Michigan concerns health advocates

By |

By CAITLIN McARTHUR
LANSING — Heroin and related drugs are spreading across Michigan and have become more deadly in recent years, some experts say. Michigan-wide numbers of unintentional overdose deaths have quadrupled since 1999, according to a Department of Community Health (DCH) report. Meanwhile, the number of deaths due to other drugs such as cocaine has gone down, according the report. Genesee, Macomb and Wayne Counties account for the highest recent heroin and opioid-related death rates, according to the DCH. But the problem is creeping into other areas: DCH data shows Antrim, Manistee, Clare, Hillsdale and Cass counties all recorded opioid-related overdose rates higher than the state average between 2009 and 2012.

Nonprofits & Social Services

Safe but separated: Foster program often splits up siblings

By |

By CAITLIN McARTHUR
Capital News Service
LANSING — When Tiana Randolph was 14, she called the police on her mother and stepfather, concerned about the safety of four younger siblings. Little did she know that call would split Tiana and her brothers and sisters apart. The younger children ended up in foster care shortly after the call. Tiana followed three years later, but not into the same home. Tiana was able to see her brothers and sisters regularly in recent years — but two were adopted in the past six months, and Tiana told lawmakers at a public forum earlier this year that she has not been able to contact them since.

Nonprofits & Social Services

State, advocates to renegotiate child welfare oversight

By |

By CAITLIN McARTHUR
Capital News Service
LANSING – The Department of Human Services has withdrawn a motion to end federal oversight of its child welfare program and instead will negotiate for a new settlement with the children’s group that forced the intervention, according to department officials. Bob Wheaton, communications manager for the department, said by email that federal Judge Nancy Edmunds has encouraged DHS and advocacy group Children’s Rights to sit down and re-negotiate. Wheaton said the goal of a December motion to completely end oversight had been to obtain more flexibility in meeting the needs of children in Michigan’s child welfare system. Children’s Rights declined to comment. The federal oversight stems from a lawsuit filed by Children’s Rights in 2008 charging that Michigan caseloads were too high, and that, with 19,000 kids in the foster system, not enough children were finding permanent homes.

Government

Foster kids’ stories inspire moves to reform

By |

By CAITLIN McARTHUR
Capital News Service
LANSING – The number of Michigan children in the state’s foster care system is at its lowest in almost a decade, but anecdotes from kids within the system have legislators considering bipartisan reform. First term Rep. Jim Runestad, a Republican from White Lake, said he has spoken to Rep. John Chirkun, a Democrat from Roseville, about working together to improve the foster care system. Chirkun could not be reached for comment. About 18 foster children told legislators recently about their experiences in the system, highlighting issues such as sibling separation and limited resources available once they age out of the system. The children told their stories through an event called KidSpeak, organized by the nonprofit Michigan’s Children to help young people directly address legislators on issues affecting them.

Environment

Michigan wind farms meeting goals, but disturbing neighbors

By |

By CAITLIN McARTHUR
Capital News Service
LANSING – Michigan is on pace to meet its renewable energy targets, largely thanks to wind power, but issues of transparency and turbine placement have some asking whether the shift toward wind is a smart one. The Great Lakes State is well on its way to drawing 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by the end of the year, as required by a 2008 law. Public Service Commission (PSC) Communications Specialist Judy Palnau said that achievement is thanks to a huge effort from utilities, with wind farms and turbines going up across the state. To date, Michigan has 18 operational wind farms with another two in development, according to the PSC. The primary location for wind energy in the state is Huron County because of its wind capacity.

Business & Economy

West Michigan retaining young, educated residents despite statewide trend

By |

By CAITLIN McARTHUR
Capital News Service
LANSING –While many of Michigan’s counties are experiencing an exodus of the young and educated, the Greater Grand Rapids region is bucking the trend. According to 2013 census data, Michigan lost 3.5 per cent of its population of people aged 22 to 34 with bachelor’s degrees to other states. This follows net migration losses of the young and educated of 2.2 percent in 2012 and 2 percent in 2011. In 2010 the state lost 4.4 percent of this group to outmigration. While much of the data shows the state continuing to follow this trend, a recent survey of the Greater Grand Rapids area tells a different story.