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…
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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…
Ever since the huge female genital mutilation scandal that took the Detroit area by storm in April of 2017, the subject has made headlines over and over, as the case took several unexpected turns. First there were some unexpected charges, as more and more people were implicated in the allegations. Then families were torn apart…
Welcome back and thanks for joining us again. In the previous article we talked a little about the issue of marijuana usage, which is legal in Michigan for people over 21, and illegal at a federal level for anyone, at any age. And that’s where the issue gets complex. As we mentioned before, because refugee…
In November of 2008, medical marijuana was legalized in Michigan. The issue of weed usage for any purpose is a hugely controversial topic, and so when the law changed again in 2018, and recreational marijuana was legalized, things get a little more complex. At least for foster parents of refugee minors living in Michigan. Refugee…
Welcome back and thanks for joining us again as we wrap up this somewhat controversial topic. We’ve been talking about how the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Michigan could impact parents and kids moving forward, specifically from a child abuse standpoint. We’ve already discussed what the new law says about children’s access to pot,…
Welcome back and thanks for joining us again for this discussion on Native American child abuse crimes, and why they’re handled differently. As we pointed out in the previous article, where the crime happens has a lot to do with how it’s handled. Crimes committed on Indian Reservations are investigated by tribal police and the…
If you’ve ever read about a child abuse case involving Native Americans, you’ll also notice that those cases aren’t handled in the same way as other child neglect and abuse cases in Michigan. And you may have wondered why. Well, there are a couple of reasons, depending on the circumstances, and we’d like to explain…
Every now and again a book comes out that hits home so perfectly, that touches on issues everyone knows are wrong, yet no one knows how to change or address. And this book is a perfect example of that. Small Animals: Parenting in the Age of Fear is a book by Kim Brooks that addresses…