Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Partners with HopSkipDrive to Support Youth in Foster Care

To help children in foster care in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties remain in their current school and stay connected to after-school activities, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is partnering with HopSkipDrive. With this new partnership, youth in foster care will be able to maintain social and educational connections through access to reliable, safe transportation.

“This transportation solution enhances our department’s commitment to supporting the social and educational needs of Michigan youth experiencing foster care,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “When a youth is placed outside of the school district they previously attended, resource limitations can make it difficult to continue attending their school of origin. Having access to HopSkipDrive’s CareDriver network will help ensure our youth can attend their schools without missing a day.” 

HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, equity, and care. It partners with more than 600 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofits, including supporting more than 10,000 schools across the United States. The company supplements existing transportation options with a network of CareDrivers, highly vetted local drivers with at least five years of caregiving experience.

MDHHS’ partnership will help support HopSkipDrive’s continued work in Michigan. In 2022, the company launched in the state and began partnering with Detroit Public Schools Community District and other Detroit-area school districts. HopSkipDrive has contracts with nearly a quarter of the school districts in the Detroit area as well as a number of charter schools, and recently expanded into Grand Rapids.

“We know that a child’s ride to school can be the difference between a good day and a bad day, which is why we have spent years building access to safe, reliable transportation to solve the biggest challenges for school districts and government agencies,” said Joanna McFarland, HopSkipDrive Co-Founder and CEO. “We should all work to ensure students in vulnerable populations don’t miss any day. We are proud to give the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services the best choices technology can deliver for youth in the foster care system.”  

According to HopSkipDrive’s 2024 State of School Transportation Report, 21% of school district leaders and transportation officials say transportation challenges are the biggest contributor to chronic absenteeism. More than two thirds (68%) believe that students with higher rates of chronic absenteeism — including those experiencing homelessness or in foster care — will miss more school if access to reliable transportation is not available. 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services administers dozens of programs to improve the health, safety and prosperity of state residents. MDHHS works hand-in-hand with hundreds of partners at the local and regional levels to provide these needed services.

Learn more about how HopSkipDrive works with school districts, nonprofits, counties, and other organizations to help youth living in foster care maintain access to education and other vital resources.