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| Participants at the April 29 Roundtable discuss MBAI's MiBridges enhancements. |
Michigan Benefits Access Initiative Brings Online Efficiency to MiBridges in 2012
Do you help your clients apply for and access state benefit programs? Are they overwhelmed, tired of trying to be in the right place at the right time with the right paperwork to find the window of opportunity to obtain income support?Imagine how much easier it would be for all of us if clients could complete one application, one time, and have their eligibility verified for all of the state administered programs: Medicaid; Cash Assistance, Child Development and Care; State Emergency Relief; as well as Food and Energy Assistance.
What if they had access anytime to a single source online portal where they could check their enrollment status, upload documents, exchange electronic correspondence with case workers, and have their continued eligibility determined online—in English, Spanish or Arabic.
This is what MiBridges www.michigan.gov/mibridges will bring to your clients in 2012, thanks to the work of the Michigan Benefits Access Initiative (MBAI) task force, a forty member group that has been working since 2008 to bring close to $1 billion unclaimed benefits back into circulation.
MiBridges Creates One Platform
“Research shows more than 50% of the reason for program failure or dropping out is that people just didn’t know what they were supposed to do,” says Linda Schmidt, Poverty Policy Director at the Michigan Department of Human Services.
“As this system is built out, you will be able to help [clients] figure out exactly what’s going on, report changes, and do whatever they need to do to recertify and maintain their eligibility for the programs that they already have—and to apply directly for all of the DHS programs online.”
The electronic upgrades to the MiBridges system are scheduled for completion from December 2011 through March 2012. The work is being done by Deloitte with funding from the Michigan Association of United Ways.
Getting to the Other Side
“The vision is to get us all on the same page with the same piece of technology...to get the income supports into families so that they can complete their training, get that better job, and really make progress against poverty,” explains Nancy Lindman, Director of Public Policy & Partnerships at Michigan Association of United Ways.
“This doesn’t replace the social work,” emphasizes Lindman. “But we need to move people into financial stability.”
Getting Ready for the Change
Currently MBAI is working to bring together two groups of people: those who help people with the paper booklet applications; and those who have experience with online applications. The goal is that when the system rolls out within a year, everyone who works on benefits access will be ready.
MBAI is forming strong partnerships with a growing number of nonprofit networks, such as Voices for Action, to integrate into community initiatives.
The MBAI three-phase outreach plan will help local community-based organizations prepare for the new technology.
- Recruit non-profit networks that work with clients on a daily basis as benefits access sites.
- Train staff and volunteers so they feel comfortable with the MiBridges system and assisting people with benefits.
- Bring in additional funding to clear away barriers for these networks.
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| Nancy Lindman presents MBAI's MIBridges enhancements in Grand Rapids. |
Once the system is up and running DHS expects to see increased benefits enrollment, reduced workload, less recertification errors, and fewer re-applications.
With the MiBridges technology update creating more stable income supports, the “real” work can succeed—helping those who are truly in need cross over from poverty to prosperity.
For information about MBAI or MiBridges benefits access training, contact Nancy Lindman, Michigan Association of United Ways (shown at right) nlindman@uwmich.org or 517.371.4360.♦
Download a 2011 MBAI fact sheet.
Download the 2009 MBAI Executive Summary Report.
Download the April 2011 MBAI presentation.
Michigan Benefits Access Initiative (MBAI) Partners
- Community Economic Development Association
- Department of Corrections - Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative
- Department of Human Services - Voices for Action
- Elder Law of Michigan
- Food Bank Council of Michigan
- Michigan 2-1-1
- Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
- Michigan Community Action Agency Association
- Michigan Community College Association
- Michigan Head Start Association
- Michigan Primary Care Association
- United Way for Southeastern Michigan
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