[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6607045,"mediaKeyId","2956605-4c23522da842a2628b8d8b484e520b71","parentId",2956605,"title","Oakland County board approves move of Children’s Village medical services to Health and Human Services after contentious debate","audioSeconds",4173,"startMs",3858000,"endMs",8031000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956605-4c23522da842a2628b8d8b484e520b71&start=3858&end=8031","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956605-4c23522da842a2628b8d8b484e520b71/thumbnail_3858000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6607045/Oakland-County/Michigan/Oakland-County-board-approves-move-of-Childrens-Village-medical-services-to-Health-and-Human-Services-after-contentious-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607045-1e8d230558f774e646df2c7a1b8ef472/orig.mp4?Expires=1770621061&Signature=o9P7ePk10G2oa0jJ3QPaLt1type3006ZO6YzqC2YisNg7TqkxECPlhqL3qOIxxy1x86w1U~pAxwtlexSfGX04vxFogUbeZ6OMOJHhQiVHpdhZMpR0vViNX-BFosOn22gQtdr1nWTAYCauoRBHdRgsi2vwfIqIg6O7IUZ3E7qM2P1o6COGGwtAeKig7MLK106DRrKBjfrtaHi5EeDrR4h46ffcC1gMawYfDwM8OGCVYoDelse~22QvaOcNNyC5mPqwa8WZ9FmvCl79B3TmEOeTB1IEKU1OBk2UjNFkjAbc2LA-mELRONn6XcLFXPZTatJvCxguxclMdQDI5EkTYoHYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oakland County","date","2025-04-11T01:05:51.697Z","article","The Oakland County Board of Commissioners voted 10-7 on April 10 to reassign Children’s Village medical clinic services from the Department of Public Services to the Health and Human Services Department, a move supporters said would consolidate oversight of clinical care and opponents said would jeopardize long-serving nurses’ jobs.

The board adopted an amendment before the final vote that, according to commissioners, preserves current pay and benefits for affected employees, extends the timeline for position changes to the end of the county’s fiscal year and allows up to 24 months for staff to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) if required for new titles. The amendment was offered from the floor and passed on a 14-3 vote before the main motion was approved 10-7.

Why it matters: The plan affects the county-run Children’s Village residential program and its medical staff. Nurses, union leaders and multiple commissioners described the staff as experienced and said weeks of uncertainty have caused distress among employees and residents.

What the board approved: The motion, moved by Commissioner Powell and seconded by Commissioner Gershenson, reassigns operation of Children’s Village medical clinic services to Health and Human Services. The adopted amendment adds explicit language intended to maintain nurses’ current pay and benefits during transition, extend the time that certain positions remain at Children’s Village through the end of the fiscal year, and give existing staff time to meet educational requirements (up to 24 months to obtain a BSN for classifications that will require it).

Public comment and staff concerns: Multiple Children’s Village nurses and their union representatives urged the board to reject the proposal or revise it to guarantee job protections. Marvin Vaughn, president of the nurses at Oakland County Children’s Village, said staff had not been included early enough in planning and asked commissioners to “do right by these workers.” Nurse Tracy Tuning told the board, “I stand before you tonight angry, hurt, disappointed, and heartbroken,” and said residents had told nurses they did not want them to leave. Michigan Association of Public Employees representative Chad Trusler urged commissioners to consider livelihoods before voting.

Supporters’ arguments: Commissioners who supported the reassignment said public health oversight is the appropriate structure for clinical services and emphasized assurances given during debate that no employee would incur a pay cut, and that vacant public-health nursing positions would be held open so employees who opt not to obtain a BSN can remain employed in county health roles. Commissioner Powell said the move has “the full recommendation of our public health director,” the public services director and the county executive.

Dissent and process objections: Several commissioners and public speakers called the process insufficiently clear and argued that long-serving nurses have earned protection from involuntary reclassification. Commissioner Hoffman said, “This proposal will hurt our employees,” and urged the board to grandfather staff rather than require reapplication. Other commissioners noted the emotional toll on staff and questioned whether a 24-month timeline is realistic for some caregivers with family obligations.

Next steps and implementation: Commissioners said the amendment leaves time for Human Resources, labor unions and county administration to complete negotiations and to implement internal hiring and placement. The board did not adopt language that would have required separate staged votes for transfer and classification changes.

Context: The item followed weeks of public concern and caucus discussion. The final roll call on the measure was conducted at the April 10 meeting; the board chair certified the result as 10 yeas and 7 nays.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting 04-10-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Oakland County Board of Commissioners voted 10-7 on April 10 to reassign Children’s Village medical clinic services from Public Services to Health and Human Services, adopting an amendment intended to preserve staff pay and benefits and to extend transition timelines.","taxTitle","Oakland County, Michigan","taxId",2835,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607031,"Oakland County issues Earth Day and Arbor Day proclamation; celebrates Michigan Clean Slate anniversary and recognizes Workers’ Memorial Day",1255,366000,1621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956605-4c23522da842a2628b8d8b484e520b71&start=366&end=1621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956605-4c23522da842a2628b8d8b484e520b71/thumbnail_366000.jpg","/articles/6607031/Oakland-County/Michigan/Oakland-County-issues-Earth-Day-and-Arbor-Day-proclamation-celebrates-Michigan-Clean-Slate-anniversary-and-recognizes-Workers-Memorial-Day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607031-9eef3df7b0054508e1a1f818b6ef8d52/orig.mp4?Expires=1770621061&Signature=A6vXV9Bh~nwN4VGOYngSjhTsXp1XsNHOv3VhGzEjolRkPnaABFTobqQQG4RX5aTrWVycjLY4fhcIozqcGHusdRwTEg-dshfhD36QYZZPVKphmfm1D4iyGhMSgxhtKQ1RYQujC-1qy76-wCjY3h306UDnxBneAwxVM7nIlmjZUoWQrGQPz-fgyo6wlXrt68OWNgGiIuMeCNXRYGZDeQJYKTp7t6zTpdcwtIZM0ngcR3zfoT3L2nS-xEqTnCyN8g5I8jrTOn5bRBw8UsU~WFzNuDL1grCXhmdgq-9r~CI60CvYjE3vzx5TMwUUf64I25dLCb7jUdAC~EnVvebpqMI2~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oakland County Board of Commissioners on April 10 issued three proclamations recognizing environmental and workforce observances and celebrating the county’s participation in the Michigan Clean Slate program.

Earth Day and Arbor Day: The board adopted a proclamation recognizing April 22 as Earth Day and April 30 as Arbor Day in Oakland County. The proclamation cited the county’s green spaces, its designation of 24 Tree City USA communities, nearly 400 lakes, and recent county tree-planting efforts (county campus planting of nearly 500 trees in 2024).

Michigan Clean Slate anniversary: Commissioner Angie Powell presented a proclamation honoring the fourth anniversary of Michigan’s Clean Slate laws (original package enacted April 11, 2021, and automatic set-aside provisions effective April 11, 2023). Jennifer Llewellyn, director of Oakland County Michigan Works, told the board the county’s Clean Slate initiative has helped 804 residents have convictions removed from their records and that an additional 455 residents were cleared through automatic expungement. Llewellyn described the local program team, state funding that supported initial implementation, and the role of the county’s clean‑slate attorney, who personally assisted many residents.

Workers’ Memorial Day: Commissioner Miller presented a proclamation declaring April 28, 2025 as Workers’ Memorial Day in Oakland County and urged renewed focus on workplace safety; speakers referenced a recent workplace fatality at a Stellantis site as part of the broader context for the observance.

Remarks and acknowledgements: The board recognized county sustainability staff and invited program leaders to comment. Jennifer Llewellyn and other Clean Slate staff described program outcomes and thanked county leadership for bipartisan support and funding that helped launch the local initiative. Commissioners and union representatives spoke in support of Workers’ Memorial Day and workplace safety measures.","At its April 10 meeting the Oakland County Board of Commissioners issued proclamations recognizing Earth Day and Arbor Day, celebrated the fourth anniversary of Michigan’s Clean Slate law with local program statistics, and declared April 28 Workers’ Memorial Day in Oakland County.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":44,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607036,"Board approves opioid-settlement allocation to fund monitor at Pontiac harm-reduction clinic",109,3749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956605-4c23522da842a2628b8d8b484e520b71&start=3749&end=3858","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956605-4c23522da842a2628b8d8b484e520b71/thumbnail_3749000.jpg","/articles/6607036/Oakland-County/Michigan/Board-approves-opioid-settlement-allocation-to-fund-monitor-at-Pontiac-harm-reduction-clinic","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607036-60d354891d89c6e471ce5333dd4edd7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770621061&Signature=LsyX4awWvMWk5xXntWZgf8ukoi~lHhgzYn9QhhEMLZ7S0AyFAamcMvLhgAo12VitZXL6djaN3Gaq7pGCCgdeVZOd2u9sP~A4PZ9EU4M4LdePH419pDnC-ct29T9AZFBDopKnqxVMTd7wBV-YxWSORQitVNgxwB3CqlwFTX302CUIARezmeRM2NdtfWUDGAt5TLe3uVWcni7OMCLnHn2COnXPRbzzkenWjWyNgCBzj3UwPuGxl9Nn1xjSObJldILh~h~fJGoz95w4HtVQSVsJnU9BvElr53nwIDA821dNcRF3NGOyFMEeVOaOblRosbeS4aaU8rQfPteLQ5AmI-DCnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oakland County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution on April 10 to allocate opioid-settlement funds to support harm‑reduction operations in Pontiac, including an amendment to fund a temporary employee to monitor conduct around the clinic.

The amendment, moved by Commissioner Luebz and seconded by Commissioner Powell, directs use of opioid-settlement money to hire an employee for up to six months to monitor the county-supported harm-risk clinic in Pontiac and attempt to reduce loitering, littering and related public‑safety and quality‑of‑life concerns around the facility. Commissioners voted 17-0 both on the amendment and on the final allocation.

Why it matters: Opioid-settlement funds are distributed to local governments for treatment, prevention and remediation efforts stemming from the opioid crisis. The allocation specifically directed resources to support on-site monitoring at a high‑use clinic site in Pontiac, reflecting local concerns about neighborhood impacts in addition to treatment access.

Implementation: The amendment authorizes hiring an employee on a temporary basis (up to six months). Commissioners indicated the effort is intended to be short-term monitoring rather than a long-term staffing change; the resolution establishes the funding path and directs county staff to proceed with implementation.

Votes: The amendment and the main allocation each passed by unanimous voice/roll-call votes (17 yeas, 0 nays).","Oakland County commissioners unanimously approved using opioid-settlement funds to hire a temporary employee to monitor a harm-reduction clinic in Pontiac and address loitering and related concerns.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607041,"Oakland Community Health Network reports rising behavioral-health demand, expansion of walk-in and co-responder services",725,1694000,2419000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956605-4c23522da842a2628b8d8b484e520b71&start=1694&end=2419","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956605-4c23522da842a2628b8d8b484e520b71/thumbnail_1694000.jpg","/articles/6607041/Oakland-County/Michigan/Oakland-Community-Health-Network-reports-rising-behavioral-health-demand-expansion-of-walk-in-and-co-responder-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607041-54f76fa90070b6f0c4375959397fc0c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770621061&Signature=F0DTI1vL2J~sOLcjncg0Um~0HL7F1sXbxXwZTRppEUmI90lTDn7FjmO0WOzISGWKSWQA1qf-z8Ppozbfl~0mClAwyDeDOWAEiKOsntv7U9yrcwmp5XylU2-OjS-mDRmYVbuXQTJxEGpQ8aQYcyDMgVYFUVKJfy1j55SN6qiLK2z~q071rqT48NJfs8V4RjTFKlLDKleCJDS30EFO3EoeAjILBvIsNmp4I-A5IadFApyQSQbAc~WGEAbmqaLJwcnaTZexLWWiPqKxuljb~rUCoXsL9FvQsA~wwCVq-7b1nrD3LhQem2TUEXi1J~-z~KiUTxlPk9vE9Y5qjy71jrD3Hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) presented to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on April 10, reporting increased demand for behavioral-health services and growth in several county programs that connect people to care.

OCHN Executive Director Adena Lazamy said call volumes to the network rose by approximately 9 percent and that the 988 behavioral-health crisis line numbers have also increased. She described a partnership with the Oakland County Health Department that places a clinician at the Southfield Health Department site; since that clinician began work a few months ago OCHN has connected more than 200 people who walked in for help to behavioral-health supports and, when appropriate, started therapy and interventions.

Lazamy highlighted the county’s Pontiac walk-in clinic (soft launched May 2024), which she said has served more than 1,500 people since opening, and noted that the walk-in model allows simultaneous attention to physical-health needs and behavioral-health screening.

Co-responder program data: OCHN described CORE, the co-responder program that pairs clinicians with law-enforcement responses. Lazamy reported about 6,700 CORE referrals and said arrests in those cases decreased by about 3 percent; she added that 49 percent of CORE contacts remain in the community and 21 percent voluntarily transported to the county’s Resource and Crisis Center (Common Ground). Lazamy said the program has trained six clinicians who ride with law enforcement and that the county’s response toolbox has broadened as a result.

Other services: OCHN noted a sober-support unit located at the Common Ground Resource and Crisis Center and said more than 10,000 individuals have been served there since 2017. The network also described mental-health school navigators (participation in over 101 community events and 779 referrals) and veterans navigators that help connect unhoused or isolated veterans to housing and services.

Funding and risks: Lazamy warned that Medicaid and managed-care changes remain a funding threat; she said some services in the county are not Medicaid‑billable and rely on local investments and grants. Commissioners asked for comparative arrest‑reduction data for other jurisdictions with co-responder programs; Lazamy said she would gather more comparative information, noting Detroit/Wayne County as a comparability point.

Audience reaction: Board members praised the network’s outreach and partnerships. Commissioner Smith asked about demographic reporting categories on the walk-in data (unreported/refused vs. decline-to-specify), and Lazamy said increases in people declining to provide demographic details may reflect fear among undocumented or otherwise vulnerable callers.

OCHN handed out materials that included analyses about the cost-savings of treatment versus incarceration; the presentation closed with a call to use 988 in crises and to continue county funding and collaborative partnerships.","Oakland Community Health Network told the county board it has seen increases in call volume and expanded walk‑in and co‑responder services, connecting hundreds through on‑site clinicians and reporting declines in arrests where co‑responders are deployed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Oakland County board approves move of Children’s Village medical services to Health and Human Services after contentious debate

Oakland County issues Earth Day and Arbor Day proclamation; celebrates Michigan Clean Slate anniversary and recognizes Workers’ Memorial Day

Board approves opioid-settlement allocation to fund monitor at Pontiac harm-reduction clinic

Oakland Community Health Network reports rising behavioral-health demand, expansion of walk-in and co-responder services