Funding to Establish Parenting Time

By Steve Capps, Director, Friend of the Court Bureau

While child support professionals are probably familiar with Part D of the Social Security Act, many may not be aware of other parts of the Act, such as Part A which funds services for people receiving public assistance, or Part E which funds child welfare services for children who are abused or neglected. Many families receive more than one of the Social Security Act services – some for generations.

The Friend of the Court Bureau (FOCB) recently studied Michigan’s child support caseload in several counties and matched it with other types of cases involving the same parties. We found that 45 percent of abuse and neglect court cases studied also have a domestic relations case (divorce with children, paternity, or support) associated with someone in the family.

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.