This report summarizes the findings of a study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the effects of Pathways to Potential (P2P), a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) program. From 2012 to 2025, P2P placed MDHHS caseworkers in public K-12 schools across Michigan to address unmet material needs that were barriers to regularly attending school. P2P started in 20 schools and grew to around 300 schools at its peak, focusing on schools that had high chronic absenteeism rates. Our team based at the University of Michigan evaluated the program for three student outcomes: 1) chronic absenteeism; 2) child maltreatment investigations, and; 3) violence- related expulsions. We observed effects across each outcome examined, finding that P2P:
- Reduced chronic absenteeism rates by 8%
- Reduced total child maltreatment investigations by 5%
- Reduced child maltreatment investigations for physical neglect by 12%
- Reduced weapon-related expulsions by 31%
- Reduced firearm-related expulsions by 82%*
The findings of our evaluation suggest that school-based strategies to identify and address students’ and their families’ material needs may be a feasible and effective strategy for preventing chronic absenteeism, diverting family contact away from the child welfare system, and preventing severe aggression at a critical stage in children’s lives.
*Interpret with caution given rarity of expelling students for bringing firearms to schools
View the full report (PDF): Pathways to Potential Evaluation Report