LANSING – Today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the launch of phase 2 enhancements to its statewide Bed Management Tool, according to a press release on Monday.

The press release stated that the Bed Management Tool is “an innovative digital platform designed to help modernize youth placement in Michigan’s juvenile justice system.”

“The updates will streamline placement coordination and improve real-time reporting,” the release added.

Phase 2 updates build upon the tool’s initial launch in July 2025 by expanding functionality to improve residential treatment placement matching, reduce administrative burden, and increase transparency across courts, facilities and policymakers, according to the release.

“These enhancements continue to support more informed placement decisions that better align youth needs with appropriate treatment and services,” Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director, said in the release. “This tool helps strengthen coordination across the state while reinforcing the importance of serving youth in their home communities whenever possible.”

According to MDHHS, the Bed Management Tool was developed in partnership with the University of Michigan’s Child and Adolescent Data Lab. The tool was created in response to the need for efficient, data-driven decision making in residential placement and treatment for youth involved in Michigan’s juvenile justice system.

“The Child & Adolescent Data Lab at the University of Michigan School of Social Work has significantly expanded the dashboard infrastructure to enhance both functionality and reporting capabilities,” Zia Qui, research technology specialist, University of Michigan said in the release. “These improvements reflect our ongoing commitment to delivering actionable, data-driven tools to the practitioners and policymakers who depend on timely, accurate information.”

“The Bed Management Tool provides a quick and simple view of placement opportunities in real time,” Julie Duffey, Highfields, Inc. residential coordinator, said in the release. “It can save countless hours for providers searching for an open bed.”

In addition to supporting individual placement decisions, the Bed Management Tool functions as a statewide reporting system, providing visibility into youth placement, facility utilization and occupancy trends, according to MDHHS. The information collected supports statewide planning, identifies service gaps and will guide future system improvements.

The enhancements strengthen public safety by ensuring that youth are placed in residential treatment programs that align with their individual risk levels and specific needs, the release stated. Whenever possible, youth will be placed closer to home, helping maintain family connections and community ties.

MDHHS also stated that Phase 2 supports faster placement decisions, reducing unnecessary time in detention, and allowing youth to move more quickly into appropriate services. Additionally, the enhanced system provides judges and court professionals with clearer visibility into available programs, making it easier to match youth with services that support accountability, rehabilitation, and long-term success.

Phase 2 enhancements include:

– Advanced search and filter capabilities, allowing users to identify facilities by services offered, age range, gender served, and other placement criteria.

– Expanded service arrays to better align youth treatment needs with facility programming.

– Length-of-stay information to support planning and system flow.

– Detailed facility descriptions, including program focus and treatment approaches.

– Clear identification of admission exclusions to reduce unnecessary placement inquiries.