Health and mental healthcare and juvenile justice (Michigan Division Of Juvenile Justice)

Dear Mr. Dankoff,

Thank you for your interest in public records of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (hereinafter “Department”).
Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern,

This is a request for records under your state public records law. I am requesting copies of public records regarding health and behavioural health service delivery in youth correctional facilities in your jurisdiction, to inform a comparative research project regarding health and mental health care delivery in juvenile detention facilities across the US. Specifically, I request information regarding the following:
1. Name and contact details for those responsible for health and behavioural health services provisions at all locations where juveniles are incarcerated within your jurisdiction.
2. Regulations, policies and procedures that govern the operation of health and behavioral health provision for juveniles incarcerated within your jurisdiction. This includes health intake, room confinement, medication management, access to specialist and dental services, discharge planning services, and other health and behavioral health related policies.
3. Contracts from January 1, 2021 to the time the request is filled between your agency and any healthcare provider including both physical health and behavioral health.
4. Records concerning your jurisdiction’s most recent application to Centre for Medicaid Services (CMS) for an 1115 Medicaid waiver (if applicable), and any response, with specifically focus on how and whether such a waiver applies to provision of Medicaid funded services for detained juveniles.
5. Records relating to financing for health and behavioural health care delivery in your jurisdiction.

I request the records be provided electronically. If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me. However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of the administration of juvenile justice. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes.

If access to the records I am requesting will take longer than allowed by statute, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies of the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

Tess Kelly
Fellow, Harvard FXB Centre for Health and Human Rights

Joshua Dankoff
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Citizens for Juvenile Justice
617.338.1050

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Your request has been assigned the following tracking number: H019866-052423. Your request has a legally received date of May 25, 2023. You will receive a response by the Department by June 02, 2023. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite requests and the time permitted for response by the Department may be extended beyond June 02, 2023 by ten (10) business days.
In accordance with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, the Department provides copies of existing non-exempt records. Records which are exempt from disclosure under state or federal law will not be provided, or records may be redacted to separate exempt information. The FOIA does not require the Department to create new records or answer queries.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the MDHHS Public Records Center and you will receive an email when your request has been completed.
Regards,
Bureau of Legal Affairs,
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST , Reference # H019866-052423
Dear Mr. Joshua Dankoff,

This notice is issued in response to your request, legally received by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Department) on May 25, 2023, requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

In order to determine what responsive records the Department might have, it is necessary to extend the time for response permitted by MCL 15.235 §5(2)(d) until June 16, 2023.

Sincerely,

Bureau of Legal Affairs,
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Good Morning,
There is some confusion as to what you mean by certain terms in your request. Can you please tell us what you mean by "your jurisdiction" in parts 1, 2, 4 and 5? Do you mean just the juvenile justice area, do you mean child welfare licensing? Do you mean all of MDHHS? For part 3, you use the phrase, "your agency". Can you tell us what you mean by "your agency"?

RE: Public Records Request, Reference # H019866-052423 Dear Mr. Dankoff,

This notice is issued in response to your request, legally received by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Department) on May 25, 2023, requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

Your request is granted as to existing nonexempt records.

The Department has determined the cost for searching, retrieval, and review of the requested records and separation of exempt and nonexempt information. The cost of your FOIA request is stated in the invoice located in the MDHHS Public Records Center, where you may pay your invoice online. Upon receipt of your payment the Department will process your request. Your payment must be received within 48 days from the date of this communication; otherwise, your request will be considered abandoned.

The Department’s best effort estimate for time to complete your request is thirty business days from the date your payment is received.

The Department’s FOIA policies and procedures are available at Policies and Procedures. Sincerely,
Bureau of Legal Affairs