On October 1, 2012, Michigan’s Governor Snyder, through Maura D. Corrigan, his Director of the Department of Human Services (DHS), has implemented a new school attendance policy for families receiving the Family Independent Program (FIP). The policy requires full-time school attendance for children receiving FIP or the family’s welfare case will be cancelled. This policy also applies to parents of minors who have children with a welfare case and who are finishing high school.
Who will be affected and how:
(1) FIP groups with dependent children between the ages of 6 and 15 that have not been attending school full time will be affected. The family’s welfare case will be cancelled.
(2) If a parent’s minor child is not attending school full time, the parent and child(ren) will all be cancelled.
(3) If children age 6 through 17 are not attending school full time, only the child will be cancelled from the FIP group. If there is only one dependent child in the case, then the case is closed.
(4) A child of the age of 18 can only receive FIP on a parent’s case if they are expected to graduate from high school before the age of 19. If the 18 year old has not finished high school and is not attending school full time, she or he is not eligible for FIP.
(5) If a child has already graduated from high school (even if only age 16 or 17), then this policy does not apply to them.
The child must attend school full time for 21 consecutive school days before FIP can be turned back on. All school subjects, such as reading, math, spelling, etc., must be included. If a child of age 16 to 17 is not enrolled or attending school at all, Protective Services will be called and the parent could be charged with abuse or neglect.
The State of Michigan Department of Human Services are not trying to investigate to find out if the family needs some help to get the child to school, before the FIP case is closed. All Gov. Snyder is interested in is getting rid of more workers and their children as they are no longer needed to work in the factories. Lots of families don’t have bus services in their neighborhoods, and a lot of schools that were once located closer to the different communities are now closed. The families don’t get transportation funds in their small welfare grants, etc. The funds the family receives is not enough. It can only feed the family for about two weeks, if not less.
We need a society that cares about the whole working class. The future is in our hands. We don’t have to live this way. To join with others who are fighting policies such as these, contact the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization at 313-964-0618.
