2019 National Child Support Policy Forum: “Lifting Families Out of Poverty”

By Keegan Malone, Prosecuting Attorney Liaison, Michigan Office of Child Support, Julie Vandenboom, Program Re-Engineering Specialist, Michigan Office of Child Support, and Carol Montavon Bealor, J.D., Director, Cass County Friend of the Court

A record number of child support professionals attended the 2019 National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) Policy Forum, “Lifting Families Out of Poverty,” which was held in February in Washington, D.C. The annual Policy Forum is a great way for child support professionals to connect and learn what other programs are doing across the country and around the world, as well as gain perspective on federal priorities, initiatives, and hot topics. Michigan was fortunate to have a diverse team of leaders attending the conference from the Office of Child Support (OCS), the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO), and the Friend of the Court Association (FOCA).

Federal Office of Child Support Commissioner Scott Lekan and Division Director Barbara Lacina start the conference with their "View from the Top" plenary session.

Friend of the Court Launches No-Cost, Walk-In Mediation

By Dan Fojtik, Director, Kent County Friend of the Court

Most domestic relations cases involving children remain open for years until the youngest child reaches adulthood. During that time, disagreements between the parents about what is best for their children are all too common. The Kent County Friend of the Court (FOC) has offered mediation services for many years. Unfortunately, collecting the necessary forms from both parents and scheduling them to meet with a mediator can take three to six weeks. While waiting, parents can become even more entrenched in conflict, leaving their children in the middle.

Kent County Friend of the Court's Alternative Dispute Resolution staff.

To expedite resolution, the Kent FOC’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) unit, led by Traci Schenkel, recently launched “walk-in mediation” on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents can meet with a mediator without an appointment each Tuesday morning from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and Thursday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Women’s History: Early Female Friend of the Court Director

By Amy Lindholm, SCAO-FOCB Management Analyst and Pundit editor

Maria Peel

Women have a played an important role in Michigan’s child support program from its very early days.

Michigan’s child support program began in 1918, when the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County appointed an attorney to the friend of the court role to assist the court in domestic relations cases. State legislation passed in 1919, instituting friend of the court in every county.

By 1931, friends of the court from 42 different circuits worked together to form the Friend of the Court Association (FOCA). Maria Peel represented Washtenaw County at the first FOCA meeting at the Hotel Olds in Lansing, one of only two women at that first meeting of 15 friends of the court. She was appointed secretary-treasurer of FOCA.

Mark Vermeer: Reflections on His Years in Establishment Work

By Amy Lindholm, SCAO-FOCB Management Analyst and Pundit editor

Mark Vermeer

Mark Vermeer recently retired from the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office after working there for over 32 years, and for its Family Division since 1998. He became well-known in Michigan’s child support program through his service on leadership groups, workgroups, and special committees.

Beyond the Numbers: We are Rich!

By Suzy Crittenden, Deputy Director, Jackson County Friend of the Court

I recently took a new position at the Jackson County Friend of the Court (FOC), growing my perspective of Michigan’s child support program beyond that of my previous roles with the Office of Child Support (OCS) and with the State Court Administrative Office’s Friend of the Court Bureau (SCAO-FOCB). My former colleague, who is editor of “The Pundit,” asked if I would be willing to write an article about what I have learned from this transition.

Truth be told, after working in the child support program for over 15 years, with employment experiences in three different partner agencies, my great insight is this one simple fact: we are rich!

Introducing FOCB’s New Management Analyst

By SCAO Friend of the Court Bureau

Nikki Withrow

Nikki Withrow (formerly Searle) is the new management analyst at the Friend of the Court Bureau (FOCB).

Recent Friend of the Court Seminar

By Michigan Judicial Institute

In January, the Michigan Judicial Institute (MJI) teamed up with the Friend of the Court Bureau (FOCB) to provide an annual training event for friend of the court (FOC) staff. Over 140 FOC staff from counties across the state participated in this educational event, which is record attendance for this seminar!

Legal Corner - March 2019

"The Legal Corner" provides a summary of recent Michigan Supreme Court and Michigan Court of Appeals decisions relevant to the child support program, as well as recently released state memoranda.