AUGUSTA – The state Department of Health and Human Services has named James Beougher as director of the Bureau of Child and Family Services.

“Jim has a national reputation for making innovative changes to child welfare programs that improve outcomes for families,” Health and Human Services Commissioner John Nicholas said. “I am very pleased that he is joining our team because his ideas and expertise will be a major part of our continued reform effort.”

Beougher has had a 30-year career in Michigan serving children and families. He was most recently director of the Family Independence Agencies in Livingston and Washtenaw counties.

He served for six years as director of Michigan’s Child and Family Services Administration, where he managed an annual budget of approximately $600 million and was responsible for policy development, training and quality assurance for adult, children and delinquent youth services.