Welcome to the Detroit Evening Report, a daily round-up of news that city residents need to know.

Michigan’s top doctor told a federal judge this week that the state does not have enough beds to meet the demand for behavioral and psychiatric treatment for children.

The Detroit News reports Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel testified Wednesday in a virtual update of the state’s progress in addressing problems in its foster care system. Hertel says the number of children across the state brought to emergency rooms for mental health crises has increased over the last decade. The Detroit News has reported on children who have spent weeks in emergency rooms while waiting for foster care placements.

A health department spokesperson told the paper “a small number” of foster youth are sometimes sheltered in emergency rooms but declined to give details citing confidentiality.

Photo credit: visionart.av, Pexels

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio.

I’d like to receive WDET’s:

Your connection to news, music, conversation. 

WDET is a community service of Wayne State University.