Child abuse charges can be pretty complicated in Michigan. Yes, we know, it doesn’t seem like a complicated subject, but there’s a lot you need to know in order to understand how our system works here in the Great Lakes State. So, because we find ourselves explaining this to a lot of our clients who…
Foster Care and Mental Health, Part 2: Reactive Attachment and Borderline Personality Disorders Welcome back. In Part 1 of this series, we explored the devastating emotional impact that foster care can have on children—particularly the widespread prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders following removal from their homes. Now we turn to two additional, and often…
The Hidden Toll of Foster Care: How Children Suffer After Being Removed From Their Families Numerous studies have shown that children removed from their homes and placed in foster care often suffer significant emotional trauma—even when their family environment wasn’t ideal. Whether due to abuse allegations, neglect, or misunderstandings, the process of forced separation is…
Welcome back and thanks for swinging by to wrap up this discussion about being charged with child abuse in Michigan, and what that looks like. We know it’s a tough subject and not one that any parent or caregiver enjoys, but understanding what you’re up against can go a long way towards providing peace of…
Competency Exam Denied in 2014 Saginaw Child Abuse and Murder Case In a 2014 Saginaw County case, a man accused of child abuse and murder was denied a mental competency evaluation, despite his attorney’s claims that he may not have understood the charges or been capable of assisting in his defense. The defendant, Aki…
Accused of Child Abuse in Your Profession? Your Job—and Your Future—Are on the Line Being accused of child abuse or neglect is one of the most stressful and traumatic events a person can experience. These allegations often come with CPS investigations, police interrogations, home visits, and even child removals. But for professionals who work with…
The fallout from the Larry Nassar scandal has been one of the most devastating and far-reaching in modern American sports history. From the sheer number of victims to the staggering impact on institutions like Michigan State University, the case has prompted sweeping legal, cultural, and systemic changes. Now, yet another chapter has been added. Former…
Poverty Is Not Neglect: When CPS Misidentifies Struggling Parents as Abusers Imagine a teacher notices a student wearing a coat that’s too small in the middle of winter, or a doctor observes that a child at a well-child checkup appears undernourished. Often, these professionals do what they’ve been trained to do—they call the CPS…
Did Child Abuse Reports Really Drop During the Pandemic? The Numbers Might Be Misleading. Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, news outlets across the country reported a dramatic decline in the number of child abuse and neglect reports made to Child Protective Services (CPS) hotlines. But does that mean fewer children are being…
New Michigan Law Demands Greater Transparency From the Office of Children’s Ombudsman In a move to improve oversight of Michigan’s child welfare system, recently enacted legislation now requires the Office of Children’s Ombudsman (OCO) to release redacted reports following investigations into allegations of child abuse or neglect. These reforms aim to bring long-overdue transparency and…