Michigan taxpayers contributed $38 million to Child and Adolescent Health Services in 2025, including 100 clinics in partnership with Michigan schools last year, many of them offering confidential services to kids over the age of 12.
While the clinics clearly state parental consent is a requirement for care, many also remind parents the care will be kept a secret.
- Almost $1.4 million went to the School Community Health Alliance of Michigan, a nonprofit organization advocating for school-based health care services because “healthier kids learn better.” In 2024, they posted: “We are dedicated to ensuring that all MI youth, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, have equitable health care options and feel welcome and supported.” Does this mean they offer referrals for gender transitions under the “confidential” counseling programs schools offer?
- Over $620,000 went to Arbor Circle, which provides LGBTQIA+ Support Services to youth in Kent and Ottawa County through a referral network.
- Over $405,000 to Catherine’s Health Care to provide school-based counseling to five Michigan schools. Catherine’s reminds children ages 12 and up they can receive confidential “pregnancy care” and offers family planning referrals and confidential counseling to ages 14 and up. Although it is made clear these school health clinics cannot provide abortion or birth control services, can they make referrals without parental knowledge?
- Over $192,000 went to Cherry Street Health Services, which provides school-based health and gives confidential counseling at least four Michigan schools. A disclaimer on their website says: “Michigan law allows students ages 14 and older to access 12 therapy sessions without permission from their parent or guardian. This means conversations, records, and test results from confidential visits are not shared with anyone.” Why should any health care decisions or counseling be kept a secret from parents, especially on school property?
Other notable investments of Michigan taxpayers in “child care” include:
- Over $136,000 to the Ruth Ellis Center to advocate for gender affirming care and name changes for minors. Their mission statement says they are “dedicated to embedding racial equity and transformative justice” in their work.
- Over $5.7 million went to Vista Maria, a home for at risk girls that is now closed after facing serious allegations of sexual and psychological abuse. Hopefully the final disbursements have not been made and justice can be served for the victims.
- Over $221,000 went to Edge Partnerships, a PR Firm founded by Democrat Representative and former House Appropriations Chair Angela Witwer. Witwer came under scrutiny for her conflict of interest in 2023. How is hiring a PR firm connected to child care? Is this another kickback for the Lansing elite? Or was Edge hired to cover up one of the department’s many scandals over waste, fraud, and abuse?
- Over $162,000 went to ERACCE, an organization dedicated to eliminating structural racism and other anti-racist efforts, hosting workshops to eliminate racism, implicit bias training, anti-bias, and anti-oppression workshops. What does this have to do with child care at all? Are we training state employees to hold some racial groups to a different standard than others when it comes to providing care, screening for child abuse, and providing health care services?
- And $80,000 went to Centro Multicultural Familia, a pro-immigration organization which offers a Spanish guide to pronouns and LGBTQ2A+ Services. It is unclear if any child care or services for children are available.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), under the direction of Elizabeth Hertel, has come under scrutiny for its handling of child abuse cases, pay raises for employees, and a massive nonprofit, run by Hertel with almost no oversight. It’s no surprise we also have questions about their use of child care funds. You can browse the full listing here:
MDHHS funds for child care services are primarily allocated to child abuse prevention, child and adolescent health, child advocacy, and foster care systems. A separate request has been sent to MiLEAP for early childhood development centers and head start programs.
Michigan ranks 44th in America for education. While it might seem like an efficient approach to place medical, dental, immunization, and mental health services in schools, perhaps we should prioritize bringing up our abysmal reading scores first.
And if we ever get to the place where we are putting health centers in schools, let’s make sure to include parents. Schools are not clinics. Let’s get back to the basics.
Anna Hoffman is an Ann Arbor mom of three. You can follow her on X and Instagram @shoesonplease.
