Announcing New and Transplanted Friends of the Court

 As “The Great Resignation” continues, the Friend of the Court Bureau would like to introduce new or transplanted directors. Transition is never easy, but the circuit courts’ friend of the court (FOC) offices are in good hands under these new leaders.

Natalie Dean

Family Division Administrator, Friend of the Court, 36th Circuit Court, Van Buren County

Education and experience:

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Mediated Communication, Spring Arbor University

Master of Public Administration, Central Michigan University

Previously as a municipal government employee, I worked to strengthen teams using diversity, equity, and inclusion and emotional intelligence principles, wrote and administered grants, led a human resources department, and worked with the public on strategic and comprehensive plans.

Did You Know? Communication Options and Restrictions for State Prisoners

 By Amy Lindholm, Management Analyst, Friend of the Court Bureau

Editor’s note: The information communicated here is current as of March 2022 and applies to prisoners in Michigan Department of Corrections facilities. Communication options and restrictions may be different for county jail inmates, out-of-state prisoners, or prisoners in federal facilities.

Bookends for a 35-Year Career

 By Ken Randall, former Midland County Friend of the Court Director

Retiring and saying goodbye to staff who feel more like family than coworkers is hard. In our small 14-employee friend of the court (FOC) office, I have worked with half of my coworkers for over 20 years. In that time we have been to each other’s weddings, celebrated births of children, and mourned the loss of parents and loved ones. We have always supported each other in bad times, and celebrated together in good times. As my retirement approached, everyone in our office chipped in to give me beautiful engraved agate bookends.

Insights from Customers Who Also Staff the Program

By Amy Lindholm, Management Analyst, SCAO Friend of the Court Bureau

As promised in the last Pundit edition, we are bringing you insights from parents who are both customers and friend of the court (FOC) professionals. We launched a form last edition to collect lived experiences from your colleagues who were willing to share. This is part of our ongoing attempt to learn from the customers we serve and improve services accordingly. 

Meet FOCB’s New Management Assistant

Lisa Harris joined the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) Friend of the Court Bureau (FOCB) as a management assistant in December 2021.  Lisa comes to the FOCB from SCAO Field Services, where she was an administrative assistant for three years.  Before working at the SCAO, Lisa worked for the 55th District Court Criminal Division, Ingham County Circuit Court in both Intensive Neglect Services and Family Division, and the American Divorce Association for Men (A.D.A.M.).  Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University with a major in criminal justice (Go Green!).

Lisa is a proud mom of two children, Ethan (16) and Emma (13), and is excited to share her friend of the court and co-parenting personal experiences with the FOCB and various committees.  In her personal time, Lisa enjoys being active in her local parent teacher organization, riding around in her Jeep, and playing with her dog, Nacho.

Lisa will now be an available first line of contact for any friend of the court employees needing FOCB assistance, and she looks forward to hearing from you.  Feel free to reach out to Lisa with any questions or concerns at harrisl@courts.mi.gov.

2022 Michigan Family Support Council Fall Conference

By Michigan Family Support Council Board

The Michigan Family Support Council (MFSC) is thrilled to announce that the 2022 Fall Conference will be held in person at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, MI!

Legal Corner- Spring 2022

"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.

Editor’s note: SCAO form updates and published opinion summaries have been published here with permission from the Michigan Judicial Institute’s “IMPACT” publication.