SAGINAW, MI — Nearly a decade after helping shape Saginaw County’s child welfare services from behind the scenes, Jennifer Boose is returning—this time as its top leader. On May 27, Boose officially stepped into her new role as Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in Saginaw County.
Boose’s career began in the private sector, working in child welfare programs before joining MDHHS in 1998 as a family independence specialist. She transitioned to child welfare in 1999 and has since served as a case manager, supervisor, and section manager, overseeing a range of programs, including the non-urban maltreatment-in-care unit.
Most recently, Boose directed Livingston County DHHS and in 2022 was selected to lead the Children’s Services Agency’s Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS).
Her return to Saginaw marks a continuation of a career that already includes deep ties to the region. From 2012 to 2016, she served as a second-line manager, overseeing foster care, adult and children’s protective services, and economic stability assistance. She also worked closely with local DHHS board members, court administrators, law enforcement, and community mental health partners.
Boose holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Ferris State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan–Flint. She is an adjunct professor at Baker College in Flint, where she teaches courses in social work and criminal justice.
