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…
Nationwide Reforms Protect Young Athletes in Wake of Nassar Case — But False Allegations Are on the Rise January 2021 marked the beginning of a major shift in how the United States addresses athlete safety, accountability, and institutional abuse—sparked by the staggering revelations of sexual misconduct committed by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. His…
August 2022 marked a notable update to Michigan’s Child Protection Law with the addition of physical therapists, occupational therapists, and athletic trainers to the list of professionals designated as mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect. This change reflects Michigan’s ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children by expanding the categories of professionals required to…
When parents hear the term Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)—commonly known as brittle bone disease—they’re often struck by the severity of the name. And rightly so. OI is a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to produce strong bones, making individuals more prone to fractures and other complications. While OI affects approximately 1 in 10,000…
Welcome back and thanks for joining us. We’ve been looking at the consequences of making false allegations of child abuse, and looking at a current case here in Michigan that deals with that exact scenario. As we mentioned in the previous article, Terry Starr, the former principal of Cherryland Middle School in Elk Rapids, is…
People sometimes lie. They cheat, and steal, and say whatever they think someone else needs to hear in order to get what they want out of a situation. It’s a sad truth, but one that we all have to acknowledge if we’re going to survive in the world today. Thankfully this doesn’t apply to everyone,…
If you’re a parent then chances are you’ve struggled to strap a screaming baby into a car seat, or wished for patience while a willful toddler insists on “doing it themselves” when it comes time to get all the safety harnesses snapped into place. (And the more they fight to do it without help always…
Just in case you happen to have been living under a rock for the last few years – Larry Nassar is in jail for the rest of his life, and doctors are coming under increased scrutiny now that doctor/patient sexual abuse is under the spotlight on a national level. But the ripples from the Nassar…
Welcome back and thanks for joining us for this important discussion about how allegations of child abuse could ruin your career. We know it’s not a fun subject to read about or discuss, but it’s very important to know the facts. None of us have any idea what the future holds, and so the best…
For most parents, the idea of being accused of child abuse is too horrifying to contemplate. The idea that someone would think that your own children aren’t safe in your care, or that you don’t love your kids, is beyond heartbreaking. But what few people stop to consider when thinking about the horror of false…