By Elizabeth Roszatycki, Director, Bay County Friend of the Court (FOC)
Path to the FOC Directorship in Bay County
My undergraduate degree was in sociology, so rest assured that “saving the world” was high on my radar. Over the course of my first several years with the FOC, we developed custody and “visitation” processes for divorcing families with children. Some of the procedures developed were by design, but most were by an ad hoc approach to deal with the pain the families were experiencing. Convinced that there were more opportunities for challenge and growth, I left employment with the Bay County FOC in 1985 to attend Cooley Law School, from which I graduated in 1988. My legal career then launched in 1989 as the Assistant Director of the Midland County FOC Office. In December 1994, I returned back to Bay County FOC as the Assistant Director, and then moved to the Director position, which I have held since January 1, 1996.
Changes in Custody and Parenting Time
This backdrop was purposely shared with you to provide context to what I’ve experienced over the span of two generations of FOC customers. The typical “family” in 1978 looked very different than the family of current times. Divorce was the common legal vehicle to dissolve a marriage. Male head of household, sole income earners were the norm, and the every-other-weekend parenting time schedule was commonplace. Custody was usually awarded to mothers, while fathers were relegated to being part-time disengaged parents.
Later, I openly welcomed the introduction and recommendation of joint legal custody and joint physical custody. When the term “visitation” was replaced with “parenting time,” that sealed the deal for me that change was among us. The best times in my career related to the evolving understanding of what it means to be a parent with or without primary custody: staying involved; being a parent forever; and legal status not determinant of parenthood. I fondly look back on experiences I had with couples, educating them about sharing custody/parenting plans with each other, and seeing hope restored in their eyes. To this day, I remain very passionate and thoroughly enjoy working with parents to figure out a plan for their children that is practical for their family.
Fast forward to our current cases, where there are as many never-married parents living apart as divorced parents. Within that context, the never-married parent population is the one that has been the most challenging for me. Those cases generally require more attention, patience, and education about the rights and responsibilities of their parent role. For those cases, the spectrum of interpersonal relationship histories is vast, and incredible on occasion. It truly has been a learning experience. I often wonder how those children will survive in a system that has on occasion devalued fathers and made it difficult for them to understand their role and value in raising children. And then, I have faith that there will be individuals along the way who will positively impact their lives. As a very wise judge once told me, “Hope springs eternal, Mrs. Roszatycki,” and I have never forgotten that. Thank you, Judge Clulo!
Changes in the IV-D program
I would be remiss if I did not share the evolution of the child support world I have witnessed over the last four decades. Now that has been a whirlwind! It may be difficult for readers to believe that at one point each local office had their own child support system: receiving child support payments, receipting and mailing payments, and performing their own accounting for child support orders. I have survived two major statewide conversions.
I also feel that we have come a very long way in terms of the evolution of how we think about paying child support. I am thankful that gone are the days that payers of support were labeled “deadbeats.” Poverty can prevent parents from paying support, but it does not define their motives as a parent. Job opportunities over the past decade-plus have not been wage-earner friendly. I have observed a child support payer population currently in existence that struggles with lack of skills or education, mental health and/or substance abuse issues which impair their ability to be self-sufficient and sustaining. In my opinion, the efforts that local offices and state agencies are making to assist that population is worth a hundredfold compared to the dollars spent. I am also very proud of Bay County FOC’s informal program for jobs and services that has been offered to payers with successful results on a small scale.
In conclusion
So, that’s a wrap! Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to “wax on” about the dash between
1978 – 2021. It is so much more than these words are able to express. I will always hold dear and close to my heart all of you who I have met along the way whom I call “Friends.” I appreciate each and every one of you, the difficult work you do, and the dedication you all have for public service. Thank you.
Elizabeth Roszatycki is the Friend of the Court Director in Bay County, Michigan, and has served in this capacity since 1996. She earned her juris doctorate from the WMU-Cooley Law School in 1988.
