Oversight of Selected Support, Information, and Referral Hotlines - 491-0211-24
Description
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has contracts and/or grant agreements with several external organizations to provide statutorily required support, information, and referral hotline services to the public:
- Section 330.1165 of the Michigan Compiled Laws requires MDHHS to establish and make available to the public mental health telephone access lines. The Michigan Crisis and Access Lines, commonly referred to as MiCAL, are a group of Statewide basis support, information, and referral lines available to anyone in need of behavioral health and/or crisis intervention services. The MiCAL lines receive approximately 193,000 contacts per year. MDHHS’s fiscal year 2023 contract expenditures were approximately $7.8 million.
- Section 432.253(3) of the Michigan Compiled Laws requires MDHHS to fund a toll-free compulsive gambling helpline number. The Gambling Disorder Help-Line provides immediate confidential assistance to callers regarding issues related to gambling disorder, including screening the services and referrals to treatment to support groups. The Gambling Disorder Help-Line receives approximately 7,800 contacts per year. MDHHS’s fiscal year 2023 grant agreement expenditures were approximately $800,000.
- Title 28, Part 94, section 119(a) of the Code of Federal Regulations requires states to provide crisis intervention and hotline services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Michigan’s domestic violence and sexual assault hotline provides confidential and anonymous support for all survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, their support persons, and the professions who serve them. The domestic violence and sexual assault hotlines receive approximately 7,000 contacts per year. MDHHS’s fiscal year 2023 contract expenditures were approximately $2.5 million.
- Section 465, Public Act 119 of 2023, a boilerplate section of a fiscal year 2024 appropriations act, requires MDHHS to provide funds to Michigan 2-1-1, a free hotline service that confidentially connects Michigan residents with help and answers from thousands of health and human service agencies and resources. The Michigan 2-1-1 hotline receives approximately 545,000 contacts per year. MDHHS’s fiscal year 2023 contract expenditures were approximately $5.9 million.
Audit Objectives
- To assess the sufficiency of MDHHS’s oversight of selected crisis intervention, information, and referral hotlines.
- To assess the sufficiency of MDHHS’s oversight of the Michigan 2-1-1 resource information and referral line.
Timing
Estimated Release Date: May 2026
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