MiTEAM Fidelity

About MiTEAM Fidelity

What is the MiTEAM Fidelity Tool?
The MiTEAM Fidelity Tool is an assessment instrument designed to measure the extent to which the enhanced MiTEAM Practice Model behaviors are being practiced as designed.

Why is the MiTEAM Fidelity Tool important?
Ultimately we want to determine if MiTEAM is leading us to the outcomes of safety, permanency, and well-being for families. But first we need to determine if we are acting in a way that represents best practice as defined by MiTEAM.

Using the MiTEAM Fidelity Tool, we will collect data to see if the behaviors identified as best practice in the MiTEAM Practice Model are being practiced consistently. This information will assist in our efforts to refine these behaviors over time by continuing to enhance worker skills, reinforcing practice changes, and improving fidelity to the model. We will be able to more accurately assess whether fidelity to model is improving outcomes for children and families that we serve.

Where can I find additional guidance for the MiTEAM Fidelity Tool?

• The MiTEAM Practice Model: MiTEAM Practice Model (michigan.gov). This site contains MiTEAM Learning Modules, Application Exercises, Resources and additional supporting documents including MiTEAM Fidelity Job Aids.
• The Resource Documents linked at the bottom of this About Page.
• MiTEAM Fidelity Local Office Experts, MiTEAM Specialists/Liaisons and MiTEAM Analysts.

(Please refer to the MiTEAM Practice Model Manual linked below for further information)

The MiTEAM Practice Model is an approach to case practice that incorporates the vision, guiding principles and key caseworker activities needed to successfully implement the mission of MDHHS.

The practice model is a trauma-informed approach to child welfare practice based on the fundamental belief that all children deserve to be safe from harm, raised in loving, committed families, and provided the kinds of supports to build their well-being. A child welfare trauma-informed approach understands and recognizes that the vast majority of children in foster care have experienced complex trauma, which can significantly harm individual and familial development. In response, trauma-informed child welfare systems educate parents and caregivers on the potential developmental impact of trauma, screen children for trauma, refer children and parents for clinical trauma assessments, collaborate with mental health providers to link children to evidence-based and supported trauma services, develop resiliency-based case plans and recognize the necessity of building workforce resiliency both at the individual staff and organizational levels. MiTEAM builds on recent research revealing that traumatic stress can have serious physiological, psychological and relationship consequences on child and youth development.

The practice model is a vehicle for unifying practices with private agencies, tribal partners, policies, training and other organizational resources within MDHHS. It provides consistent direction to child welfare agency staff and other stakeholders on casework activities and services to children and families utilizing a trauma-informed approach. It links the organizational values and guiding principles of MDHHS to specific interventions and activities that all children and families should experience, such as comprehensive assessments of their strengths, traumatic exposure to stress and needs, meaningful involvement in case planning, and effective services tailored to their needs.

With the overarching goal of improving safety, permanency and well-being outcomes for children and families, the trauma-informed practice model is comprised of four core competencies: engagement, teaming, assessment (case planning, plan implementation and placement) and mentoring.

(Please refer to the document linked below - Communication Issuance (14-100) -
for further information about Strengthening our Focus on Children and Families)

In 2013, MDHHS extended collaborative efforts with the Center for Support of Families and established a collective set of strategies to implement long-term, systemic reforms in Michigan’s child welfare system. That set of strategies, commonly referred to as the Strengthening Our Focus on Children and Families Approach, includes three primary components. These are described in detail throughout the body of the Strengthening Our Focus on Children and Families document:

• MiTEAM Practice Model
• Overarching Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Approach
• Performance-Based Child Welfare System

(List is not all inclusive – includes key events related to the use of the MiTEAM Fidelity Tool)

• 2006 - Class Action Lawsuit filed against the State of Michigan by Children’s Rights, Inc.
• 2008 - Michigan began operating under federal consent decree
• 2011 - Consent Decree renegotiated and became the Modified Settlement Agreement (MSA)
• 2012 - MDHHS Children’s Services Administration, in collaboration with the Center for the Support of Families (CSF), developed a new vision, mission and guiding principles
• 2012 - MiTEAM Practice Model Implemented for the first time
• 2013 - Strengthening Our Focus on Children and Families Development
• 2014 - MiTEAM Practice Model Enhanced
• 2015 - MiTEAM Practice Model Enhancements and Fidelity Tool Piloted in Champion Counties
• 2015-2016 - Fidelity Tool Automated System Developed
• 2016-2017 - Initial Statewide Implementation of the Enhanced MiTEAM Practice Model
• 2018 - Initial Statewide Implementation of the MiTEAM Fidelity Tool