Neurodiversity Training

By Tanner Hickman, FOCB Analyst, SCAO

Increase Understanding

The Friend of the Court Bureau is developing training to support families friend of the court (FOC) offices serve by better understanding neurodiversity. The Bureau is excited to begin offering brief training opportunities to FOC offices across the state.

Neurodiversity is the idea that differences in how people think, process information, communicate, and regulate emotions are natural variations on the continuum of being human. Some individuals may be considered neurodivergent while others are neurotypical. These differences are not always obvious, but they often show up in meaningful ways in how people engage with systems like the FOC.

Welcome to the Navigator Program

The Michigan Child Support Program is piloting a new initiative to help families navigate the child support system. The idea came about after members of the Michigan Office of Child Support (OCS) Community Advisory Council shared stories about the confusion and frustration they often felt while trying to make their way through a system that isn’t widely understood and recommended that the program pursue a child support navigator-style pilot program.

How Can I Help You: The Importance of Accessible Legal Services to the Friend of the Court

By Ashley Kasper

My time working for the Friend of the Court Bureau has been immensely fulfilling, intertwining my passion for the law with a sense of purpose. My role has allowed me to navigate the intricacies of legal processes and provided a platform to apply the skills I developed volunteering in Wayne County. My volunteer experience helped me foster a deep understanding of community dynamics and enhanced my ability to serve with empathy and efficiency. 

Guy Jacobson Reflects on His Retirement

 

Guy Jacobson

As all things must come to an end, I’m retiring after 36 years of working at the Friend of the Court offices in Muskegon and Kent Counties, and I have been asked   to describe what it has been like to work in this unique and often misunderstood family division of the circuit court. 

An Interview of Reflections on the Career of Thomas Blohm

Thomas Blohm

What was your path to Friend of the Court Director?

I started with the Friend of the Court on July 16, 1984. My first position was as a Support Investigator. I interviewed litigants and their attorneys to provide pre- and post-judgment child support recommendations to the judges. By 1985 I was promoted to a Judicial Service Officer position and charged with enforcing child support and parenting time orders. In 1999, I was promoted to Enforcement Division Director, then in January 2015, was named Director of the office. I have been in a management position for 25 years. 

Felony Non-Support - An Overview

 Background

Children have the inherent and statutory right to support from their parents (MCL 722.3). Most people care for their children and make whatever sacrifices are necessary to provide for them. They truly want the best for their kids and take such necessary steps. We see this in the many cases that never go to court, even where legal actions are started. Even those parents who fall short in being able to support their children often still make efforts to do at least something to help financially. However, the unfortunate reality is that some parents move on with their lives and neglect their familial obligations. There are many reasons for this—far too many to list here. Some examples that have come up include: starting a new family; simple apathy coupled with a desire to live their best lives; and a great deal of spite for the other parent. Whatever the reason, they do not meet this basic, universal right. 

Michigan Child Support Formula

 

On January 1, the new 2025 Child Support Formula (“Formula”) took effect. This article lists some of the major changes in the formula.

New FOC Director Trainings and Resources

By Danelle Hove, Customer Service Clerk, Friend of the Court Bureau 

The Covid-19 pandemic brought great shifts to Friend of the Court (FOC) offices across the state. These changes accompanied an influx of new FOC directors and deputy directors, along with new staff to train, budgets to prepare, and increased caseloads. In order to assist our new FOC directors, the FOC offers remote New Director training. The most recent cohort began on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, with weekly sessions being held from 9:00- 10:00 am. If you are interested in joining this training, please email PoetzL@courts.mi.gov.

OCS Listening Sessions

By Julie Vandenboom, Michigan Office of Child Support Program Re-Engineering Specialist

In July and August 2023 the Office of Child Support (OCS) conducted a series of four Listening Sessions. These initial sessions were offered to individuals who expressed interest in providing additional feedback to the child support program after attending one of the OCS Advisory Council Information Sessions. Several child support professionals had the opportunity to hear the lived experiences of families served by the child support program.