OHSN Initiatives &
Activities
STATE FUNDED INITIATIVES:

The Otsego Human Services Network is responsible for the ongoing planning,
implementation and evaluation of the Strong Families/Safe Children (SF/SC) and Child
Protection/Community Partners (CP/CP) Initiatives.  Both are funded and  administered
by the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS).

Strong Families/Safe Children:
  • FY2008 Funding Cycle (10/1/07 – 9/30/08) Allocation: $86,628*
  • Parameters:  Family Preservation, Family Support & Adoption Support Activities
  • Currently Funded Programs:
  • Catholic Human Services:  Decisions to Actions
  • Northern Family Intervention Services: In-Home Support Services
  • Counseling through Fair Market Rate-Counseling Providers
  • Friendship Shelter: Family Support Services
  • Family Flex Fund (specific assistance to families through DHS)
  • Fox Farm Consulting Services:  SF/SC Initiative Coordination
    * Due to state budget issues, the FY2008 SF/SC funding was reduced 20% from
    the previous year's allocation of $108,285.  Additionally, the  eligibility criteria for
    use of these funds became more restrictive.  Four local contracts were terminated
    as a result.

Child Protection/Community Partners:
  • FY 2008 (10/1/07 – 9/30/08) Allocation: $39,150
  • Service: Prevention Services Worker to Provide Voluntary Parenting Support
    Services to at-risk families.
  • Provider: Otsego-Crawford Department of Human Services (formerly FIA)


The Otsego County Housing and Homeless Coalition (an OHSN workgroup) is
responsible for the ongoing planning, implementation and evaluation of  Emergency
Shelter Grant (ESG) funding, which comes from the Michigan State Housing Development
Authority (MSHDA).

Emergency Shelter Grant:
  • FY2007 Funding Cycle (6/1/07 - 3/31/08) Allocation:  $76,330*
  • Parameters:  Housing and Homeless Services
  • Currently Funded Programs:
  • The Friendship Shelter
  • First Call for Help
  • Homeless Coalition Coordination
    *MSHDA shifted it's fiscal year during this funding cycle.  As a result, the ESG
    amount was prorated to ten months.  The annual ESG allocation is typically
    $91,600.
Copyright 2007 Otsego Human Services Network
This page was last updated 10/23/07
The Housing and Homeless Coalition is also responsible for overseeing Otsego County's
Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness.  For more information regarding housing needs
and resources in Otsego County,  GO TO the Homeless Coalition's website.


Local Initiatives:
  • Conduct “Lending A Helping Hand” Module for Leadership Otsego County
  • Otsego County Literacy Council
  • Otsego Area Family Fun Fair (co-sponsor)
  • “Life in the State of Poverty” Simulation Experience
  • Network Display and Resource Kit for Community Events
  • Cross-Agency Trainings (e.g. "Bridges Out of Poverty" Inservice)
  • Speakers Bureau
  • Letters of Support
  • Coordinate with “Affiliated Collaboratives” (e.g. Great Parents Great Start; Early On;
    etc.)
  • Roundtable Sharing & Agency Updates
  • Strategic Planning
  • A mechanism for looking at issues of common interest
  • Support the development of community partner efforts (e.g. TAPESTRY
    Project for families with children birth to age 5)
  • Single Contact for State’s collaborative efforts in human services


Local Funding:

North County Community Mental Health and the Otsego Crawford Department of Human
Services provide local funding for the OHSN Coordinator position.